On this bright autumn morning, we welcomed a crowd of enthusiastic supporters to our first-ever event at the Cittadella Cultural Centre at the heart (and top!) of Gozo. This workshop officially kicked off the project, offering a thought-provoking, down-to-earth exchange on living off one's art in a stunning setting in Victoria – the capital city of the island.
Following an introductory speech that highlighted the background and vision of The Glasgow Effect, artist-in-residence Michelle Cohen took centre stage to deliver a refreshing talk on her journey in single-handedly making a name for herself in the arts in Scotland, without any formal training. As the founder of Scotland's largest art market, Art on Scotland, she shared a wealth of actionable tips and real-life anecdotes from her vast experience navigating the challenging terrain of earning money solely from her core talents in painting and photography.
Her presentation focused on the ingredients required to succeed – from sharpening one's artistic skills to smartly leveraging one's network to maximise all available opportunities for building one's brand and business. Juggling numerous demands from her extensive participation in the cultural scene in Glasgow with motherhood, Michelle's congeniality shone through her delivery. The workshop participants listened intently as she spoke about how she organises her workload and manages her time with ADHD, while still reaching goals and raising the bar for peers she collaborates with.
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Michelle walked the audience through the visual highlights of her portfolio, showing off her superb craftsmanship in capturing Scotland's intricate natural and man-made landmarks. Being completely self-taught, her keen eye for detail and creative use of materials stood out as qualities that draw customers in to purchase her pieces and retain an interest in the evolution of her vibrant, atmospheric artwork and photographs over the years. Recounting many serendipitous moments along the way to gaining renown in Glasgow, Michelle wove her remarkable personal story into the business acumen she imparted directly to the attendees.
The second part of the workshop was led by Catherine Mia Dando, who runs a small, local creative business revolving around interior design and furniture upcycling for a variety of clients in Gozo. Catherine's bubbly personality and quirky creative chops pulsated through her rundown of the therapeutic effects of creating, the challenges of switching from a traditional to a creative career, balancing care for family with work, and much more.
Catherine's humble approach towards her craft and amazing resourcefulness, especially as she was starting out, provided insightful fodder to the participants for their own creative pursuits. Encouraging newbies to take the first step and ask for help from those around them when taking the plunge, she laid out the trajectory of making money from reimagining and restoring objects and spaces. Catherine's passionate take on following one's impulses and tailoring one's product to clients' budgets played into her mantra of "making the mundane beautiful".
Citing her ADHD and dyslexia diagnoses as veritable stepping stones to developing her artistic potential, rather than hindrances, Catherine also delved into the psychological aspects of living life as a solo creative business owner. The audience followed her quips on pricing work and projects and fostering good working relationships within the community. Urging attendees to explore their inclinations and be fearless about exposing their capabilities, yet wise when doing business and careful to not sell themselves short, Catherine's intervention struck a positive chord and served as a reminder that anyone can begin walking this path and succeed if they put their mind and heart to it.
Both Michelle and Catherine answered practical questions posed by the attendees, and later gathered together with all those present to continue chatting and interacting while enjoying refreshments. The warm, friendly vibe of the event was accentuated by the female majority in attendance – a healthy mix of young, middle-aged and senior creatives who mingled with purpose and left the ancient walls of the fortified city with a renewed sense of determination to push themselves to achieve their aspirations.
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