Studio Manifold are a group of nine designers & artists that decided to brave the London industry together after their graduations. Represented today by Zac Eastwood & Matt Raw; It was great to have a very open and honest insight into the challenges and successes of the art world.
'manifold' came about via a group discussion. It literally means 'many fold'- underpinning their individual practices as a collective. Promoting themselves through a group identity proved more successful when in comparison to individual set ups, as people were intrigued to know how it worked.
working in a group:
time. commitment. personal experience. knowledge. networks. tea and biscuits.
'Be courageous; go out & get what you want, don't wait for people'
this message links nicely with the idea of Blue Sky Thinking. having the courage to be courageous.
STUDIO/WORK/LIFE BALANCE? Attempting to live off selling your work doesn't always happen the way you'd like it to (personal experiences). A job is needed, even if just part time, to keep a safety net of money coming in for rent and equipment costs. It is essential to get a job in something that you enjoy, eg. galleries, museums, assisting artists. It can be difficult to find a balance at first but if you want something to work, it will.
WHY LONDON? It's the location that pulled them together as a group in the first place. There's a higher ratio of people there, so is easier and quicker to promote work...
To be successful there is ultimately no escaping London.
BEST WAY TO START OUT? Learn as you develop. Say yes to everything until you have enough money to say no. Be approachable but also put yourself out there. enter competitions. social media awareness. website. craft fairs.
WORKING IN A GROUP? Sometimes it can be really difficult; it's best to pick your fights. Leadership roles emerge over time. You have to stand for what you believe in. On a positive, nine individuals means nine sets of networking contacts/ nine way rent and equipment split.