What happens when two people with very different beginnings—one raised in an artist family, the other hairdressing and DJing before turning to curating—come together to build a gallery that’s now shaping the future of contemporary art in London? Today, I speak with Oswaldo Nicoletti and Camille Houzé, the duo behind NıCOLETTı. Founded as a curatorial project in 2018, the gallery has grown into a permanent space in Shoreditch, recently redesigned by JAM, the architecture collective formed out of Turner Prize winning studio Assemble. Over the years, NıCOLETTı has become known for offering emerging artists their first UK solo shows, many of whom have gone on to biennials and major institutions. We trace their origin stories—from philosophy books and family studios to hair salons and record labels—and how those threads wove into a shared vision of a gallery that privileges singular practices, conceptual rigour, and a deep belief in collaboration. We talk about what it really means to support artists over the long term, how to think about selling without selling out, and the lessons learned from fairs and friendships along the way. If you’ve ever wondered how a gallery decides who to represent, what makes work “resonate,” or how you actually sustain trust between artists, collectors, and audiences, this conversation pulls back the curtain. KEY TAKEAWAYS The galleries that thrive are those who stand beside artists they truly believe in. Artwork resonates when it’s singular, honest, and sparks a visceral connection. Sometimes it’s the story, sometimes it’s the mystery, but it’s always about care, context, and the courage to champion new perspectives. Trust in the art world is built on open dialogue, collaboration and commitment. When gallerists, artists, and audiences show up for each other, the ecosystem flourishes. BEST MOMENTS “A gallery is not only a space with walls, it’s a relationship. Between gallerist and artist, between artwork and audience, between risk and resilience.” “We are still trying to be a gallery that operates as little as possible as a gallery. So, always artistic quality and exhibitions first, then, business unfolds from that.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://nicoletticontemporary.com https://www.instagram.com/nicoletticontemporary HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. ** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership ** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ ** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com ** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Artists spend so much time worrying about being consistent. But what if that’s not the point? What if your inconsistency is proof that you’re alive in your practice? I know you look at other artists — the ones who seem to stay in one lane — and you think, maybe I’m doing it wrong. Maybe people won’t get it. Maybe the market only rewards repetition. And yet, deep down, you know that sameness suffocates you. You didn’t become an artist to repeat yourself. You became an artist to explore. To experiment. To see what else is possible. We humans like certainty — patterns, predictability, knowing what’s what. But artists are wired for curiosity. You thrive on the unknown, the risk, the mess of it all. You love the feeling of falling forward. So when you see others who appear to be consistent, remember you might just be comparing your evolution to their edit. It´s time to make peace with being consistently inconsistent – listen in and let Ceri show you how. KEY TAKEAWAYS Consistency isn’t sameness. Consistency is commitment. It’s showing up for the work, again and again, in whatever form it needs. Most successful artists Ceri has met aren’t driven by style — they’re driven by a question. One that won’t leave them alone. Louise Bourgeois had it, Tracey Emin, Frida Kahlo - their forms changed, but the question stayed. They kept circling the same core. Stop trying to make your work look the same. Start making it feel true to the same enquiry. Ask yourself: what do I keep coming back to? What keeps tugging at my sleeve? What am I still trying to understand? That´s your North Star, follow it. BEST MOMENTS “The market might appear to love sameness, but the artists who last are those who stay faithful to their inquiry. They don't bend to the zeitgeist, they don't make to order, they don't chase trends.” “ Some people won't get it, some people won't like it, but you can't be a brilliant artist and a people pleaser.” “Authenticity is showing up for what matters, even when it's unfashionable.” “Avoiding your true voice by copying others or chasing what sells keeps you stuck.” PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

What happens when you treat each artwork as a proposition of a world—when exhibitions become acts of empathy, and books become vessels for collective memory? This week, Ceri welcomes back the brilliant Ekow Eshun—writer, curator, and cultural polymath—who has just been appointed curator of the British Art Show 10, opening in September 2026. Ekow’s trajectory is extraordinary. The first Black editor of Arena magazine, the first Black director of London’s ICA, now Chair of the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group—and a curator whose exhibitions, from In the Black Fantastic to Black Earth Rising, have redefined how we think about identity, myth, and belonging. His recent books, The Strangers and Black Earth Rising, extend that work on the page, blending rigorous history with poetic imagination. In this conversation, they celebrate his new chapter and explore what Ekow hopes to achieve with BAS10: creating space for artists who can bring us closer—to ourselves, to one another, and to the mystery of the world we inhabit. They discuss the “strangeness” that fuels his research, the empathy at the heart of his practice, and what it means to keep going deeper as a writer and curator. KEY TAKEAWAYS Ekow shows us how strangeness and curiosity open up new spaces for discovery, empathy, and connection. Art is a powerful force for reshaping collective memory. Artists use memory not just to preserve the past, but to rewrite the maps of the present. Exhibitions aren’t about neat lessons they are about fostering real encounters, the courage to go deeper and see the world from multiple perspectives. BEST MOMENTS “The role of the curator isn’t to dictate meaning but to create space for discovery, and that the real power of art lies in shifting how we see, each other, ourselves, and the fragile world we share.” “I just try and set myself as a goal, with everything, with writing, putting together an exhibition - Let's go deeper, there's always another layer.” “If you start a project, you have to start from a radical unknown, where everything is up for discovery.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.ekoweshun.co.uk PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

How you share your work with others does a lot of heavy lifting for you. Despite the myriad ways you can show what you make—through social media, websites, private viewing links, or even WhatsApp screenshots—curators, collectors, commissioners, and gallerists still rely on one timeless format - the curated artist portfolio. So, in today’s episode, Ceri walks you through how to create an artist PDF catalogue—a portable, compelling visual story that does justice to your work. She looks at what it is, why it matters, what to include, and how to make it feel unmistakably you. KEY TAKEAWAYS Think of your PDF as your practice in portable form. It should do three things - show what you make - show why it matters and make it easy to connect with you and your work. Your portfolio should feel like an extension of your practice. But don´t try and shove everything in like an overstuffed sofa. Instead, curate your best pieces. Start with a hero image, and choose others that help you to tell your story. PDFs can circulate offline, be printed or saved to desktops. They travel further than you can. Sometimes landing in rooms you didn't even know you were being discussed in Your portfolio isn't a tombstone it's a living document. It should evolve as you do and should flow like a story. During the episode, Ceri shares full details of her recommended order and formatting, for each page. BEST MOMENTS “How you share your work with others does a lot of heavy lifting for you.” “Your PDF is your story distilled. It's your visual CV, artist statement and show reel all in one.” “Your portfolio should feel like an extension of your practice, whether your work is bold, tender, chaotic or refined, let that inform your visual choices, typeface, colour, accents, pacing, even a handwritten note or sketch can help communicate tone.” “Think art magazine, not PowerPoint. Let the work lead. Minimal doesn't mean boring. It means confident.” PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

What happens when anger becomes fuel, and one woman’s story grows into a movement that changes the law? Cei is joined by Joeli Brearley—activist, author, speaker, podcast host and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed. Before stepping into the spotlight as one of the UK’s most influential campaigners, Joeli worked in the arts, producing digital festivals and cultural projects that honed her gift for turning complex ideas into relatable language. A skill that helped her stand in front of Parliament and win. Over the past decade, she’s supported over a million women experiencing pregnancy and maternity discrimination, driven a £5.2 billion investment in childcare, and helped secure reforms to flexible working and redundancy protections. She was named one of British Vogue’s 25 Most Influential Women and awarded an MBE in 2025. She co-hosts the podcast To Be A Boy, exploring how to raise happy, kind, and healthy boys in today´s society. Joeli shares how being sacked by voicemail while pregnant became the catalyst for a national movement, what it really takes to withstand the haters, and why campaigning is less about perfection and more about persistence, community, and clarity. She also reflects on the cost of leadership, the lessons she’s carrying into her new venture GrowthSpurt, and why she believes rest and presence—not relentless graft—are the real markers of success. KEY TAKEAWAYS Lasting change is less about perfection and more about persistence, clarity, and community. True progress comes when we support each other, challenge the status quo, and redefine success not by relentless hustle, but by our ability to be present and lift others along the way. The importance of rest and self-care is universal and vital for artists who often pour themselves into their craft. BEST MOMENTS “I was sacked by voicemail when I told my boss I was pregnant.” “Perfection is the enemy of the good. Sometimes you’ve just got to throw shit at a wall and see what sticks.” “It’s a reminder to all of us working in creative fields that our ability to communicate, to reframe, to connect—is political power too.” RESOURCES https://growth-spurt.uk https://www.joelibrearley.com To Be a Boy Podcast Instagram LinkedIn HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. ** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership ** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ ** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com ** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Have you ever sat in front of a blank screen, trying to describe your work, and felt like every word made it sound flatter? Or worse—like it belonged to someone else entirely? You’re not alone. Writing about your art can feel like trying to bottle smoke. You know what you mean when you make it—you can feel it in your hands, your gut, your bones—but the minute you try to put it into words, something vanishes. Maybe you start to overthink it. Maybe you feel the pressure to sound impressive. Or maybe you freeze, because the idea of summing up everything you’ve ever made in a paragraph feels impossible. In this episode, we’re going to change that. We’ll explore what a good artist statement actually does, why most of them fall flat, and how to write one that sounds like you—clear, alive, and true. By the end, you’ll have a simple framework to follow, some real-world examples to learn from, and practical steps to help you write a statement that connects your work to the people who encounter it. KEY TAKEAWAYS Most artists were never taught to talk about their work, so it feels like “trying to bottle smoke”. Fear and jargon tend to take over. Think of your artist statement as a key rather than a summary; it gives your viewer something to hold on to, or an entry point into your work. It offers vivid clues, images, textures, emotions that invite curiosity. It says, Come on in there's something here for you." Ceri´s CLEAR method will help you to write an artist statement that actually sounds like you. It's all laid out in the episode. BEST MOMENTS “Writing about your work can feel like trying to bottle smoke. You know what you mean when you make it of course, you can feel it in your hands, your gut, your bones. But the minute you try to put it into words, something vanishes.” “Your artist statement isn't about proving you're clever. It's about helping people see what's already there.” “The goal isn't perfection, it's connection. When you can articulate your practice clearly, you can stop apologising for it” PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

How do two students experimenting with clocks in Gothenburg end up creating million-euro artworks collected by celebrities and installed in airports and institutions across the world? This week, Ceri is joined by Bastian Bischoff and Per Emanuelson, the co-founders of Humans Since 1982 a Stockholm based studio where art, design and technology collide. Together with engineer David Cox and a team of international specialists, they've built a practice that re-imagines the simplest of objects, transforming time itself into spectacle. Their kinetic sculptures, ClockClock and A Million Times are now icons of contemporary design and art, hypnotic systems that mesmerise audiences while commanding extraordinary markets. Behind the headlines lies a story of risk, resilience, and relentless curiosity. Bastion and Per share the discipline of editing ideas down to their purest form, the challenges of building a collective, and the balance between entrepreneurial drive and artistic freedom. I hope you find it as inspiring as I did. KEY TAKEAWAYS Bastian and Per seamlessly combine conceptual rigour with entrepreneurial ambition. Humans since 1982 didn’t wait for permission. A prototype posted online caught the attention of galleries, collectors, and the press, catapulting them into the global design-art market almost overnight. Humans Since 1982 built a studio where precision and play coexist, a place to break the rules. Complex engineering is distilled into simplicity, and each piece is designed to outlive its makers, cared for across generations. Surround yourself with people who share your drive and values. But don´t shy away from a multi-disciplinary approach. That is where the magic happens. BEST MOMENTS “Within two years, we’d gone from students to selling work to celebrities.” “You don't have to choose between being commercially powerful and creatively uncompromising.” “We always talk about people having to bring some sort of entrepreneurial thinking and drive - the spirit to create something, to move forward and bring something to the market.” “Beauty, intellect and business can thrive together” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.humanssince1982.com https://www.instagram.com/humanssince1982 You can subscribe to their newsletter from there. PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today´s episode is about developing a sense of authority not just in the work you make, but also in all the other moving parts of being an artist. Including writing that dreaded artist statement, submitting for an exhibition you’re not sure you’re ready for, grant applications, open calls, sitting across from a curator and talking about your work. All vital tasks that fill many artists with dread. The feeling of authority doesn’t just appear one day in the studio and spread everywhere else. It has to be practised, over and over, in different contexts to be fully acquired. In the same way you build confidence in making—through trial, error, repetition, embodiment—you can build confidence in applying, pitching, choosing, and communicating. It’s not a different skill set. It’s the same muscle, exercised in a new way. Ceri shares how. KEY TAKEAWAYS Choose one hard thing to practice on purpose. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity. Maybe it’s submitting to one open call a month. Maybe it’s rewriting your bio every quarter. The point isn’t the outcome; it’s the repetition and the practice. Reframe mistakes as rehearsal. Nobody expects your first sculpture to be perfect. So why expect your first application to be flawless? Apply your creative strengths to tasks you struggle with. Use qualities you embody in the studio, such as persistence, playfulness, and problem-solving. BEST MOMENTS “Practice being the kind of person who can handle things, who can figure things out, who can do hard things, because authority isn't just about making extraordinary work, it's about trusting yourself to carry that work into the world.” “Each attempt is a sketch, a draft, a rehearsal. Over time, those rehearsals create flow.” “If there's a genuine learning opportunity and the only thing holding you back is, I don't know how, try saying yes. Authority grows through doing, not waiting.” PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

What happens when you follow your instincts all the way from a boat-building town in New England to Alexander McQueen’s studio, through the forests of Oregon, to a sunlit gallery in LA? This week, Ceri is joined by the remarkable Ryan Noon—creative director, curator, gallerist, and founder of NOON Projects. His journey weaves together fashion, art, and everyday alchemy that turns felt experience into form. They talk about sewing shells onto garments in a childhood basement, launching a label at fifteen, and building Nike’s Blue Ribbon Studio from scratch—a space that redefined how over 1,200 creatives found their flow. Ryan doesn’t protect his creativity—he gives it away, trusting that the more he pours into others, the more returns through collaboration and care. They explore burnout, beauty, the lure of shoulds and what happens when you build a garden by the sea instead of chasing the next launch. This is for anyone who’s ever tried to bottle the magic before it vanished—or better yet, learned to stay still and let it bloom. KEY TAKEAWAYS While some guard their creativity like a secret recipe, Ryan pours his out, he doesn´t hoard. Generosity isn’t weakness—it’s a creative strategy. But you can´t be so generous that you don´t look after your wellbeing too. Ryan curates atmosphere as much as art—inviting guests to experience his multisensory gallery like a sauna, where scent, texture, and care guide them slowly into creativity. The best kind of art world is a place where the alchemy is less about gold and more about grounding and discovery, where artists are encouraged to stop, stretch and stay curious together. BEST MOMENTS “I think of creativity as like an endless spring. I purposely try to give as much away, to make room for new.” “Ryan measures success by whether an artist or a student felt seen, whether the gallery smelt right, whether the artist grew. That kind of bar setting isn't glamorous, but it's holy.” “Having a quarter acre garden of vegetables was really like my pivotal shift to be able to listen to myself and work from a different source.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://noon-projects.com/About PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. ** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership ** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network ** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com ** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk

In today´s episode, Ceri explores how to deal with unfavourable feedback, something that every artist she has ever worked with has experienced. No doubt you too have felt that same sting, at some point. That moment when unfavourable feedback cuts closer than you’d like. And while it’s incredibly common, that doesn’t make it feel any less raw when it happens to you. Yet, feedback is fuel. Even when it stings, there’s often a nugget of insight there if we choose to use it. Ceri explains how to deal with feedback in a way that builds resilience rather than shutting you down. KEY TAKEAWAYS Part of our job as artists is putting ourselves in the best possible state to share work and hear feedback. Not just from people who love us, but from strangers, panellists, curators, critics—people with their own stories and filters. You´re human, you are sensitive. Build resilience by inviting feedback in low-stakes situations, with people you feel safe with. In that process, you’re training your brain. You’re getting used to hearing other perspectives without spiralling. Be curious. When someone offers feedback, instead of hearing it as a verdict, you can lean in and ask, “Tell me more”. BEST MOMENTS “Here’s the trap: we prepare for the logistics—the suitcase, the schedule, the people we need to call—but we forget to prepare our brains.” “I’ll practice on my partner, Roger, who has a very analytical brain—totally different from mine. I’ve learned that if I want his feedback to be useful, I need to give him a clear invitation.” “Sometimes, let’s be real, their opinion just doesn’t matter. Not every comment deserves equal weight.” “Practice asking for feedback on purpose. Frame it so it’s useful. Prepare your brain and body—eat, sleep, breathe and journal before you go into high-stakes settings.” PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

What happens when a building unzips or a canal boat loops the loop mid-air? This week, Ceri is joined by the extraordinary Alex Chinneck, the British artist known for bending reality one brick at a time, dubbed arts master illusionist by The Guardian, Alex has carved out a global reputation for his large-scale public artworks that melt, slide, hover and ripple through the urban landscape. They discuss how a childhood love of painting and a no-nonsense art teacher set him on a path to sculpting the surreal from cross-country running to cross-disciplinary collaboration, Alex shares how stamina, curiosity and sheer force of will underpin his most ambitious illusions. He reveals how a derelict Hackney warehouse became the site of his first major breakthrough, how he persuaded a wax factory to donate 11 tonnes of leg wax, and how he ended up installing a twisted phone box just metres from number 10. This episode is about ambition without arrogance, spectacle with substance and the messy, exhilarating art of pulling it off. KEY TAKEAWAYS Ambition isn’t about ego or spectacle; it’s about the courage to bring big ideas to life, to invite others in, and to create work that resonates far beyond the art world. Bold ideas come to life through grit, creative problem-solving, relentless negotiation, and the courage to turn resistance into opportunity; real innovation is forged in the face of challenge. When you put your work out into the public, you never know how it will be received. Often, the courage to share your true vision sparks excitement far beyond your expectations. BEST MOMENTS “You don't have to wait for permission to make ambitious work. Start with the idea, then learn how to pull it off. One door, one brick, one yes at a time.” “Sometimes the most radical thing an artist can do is make people smile.” “Public art isn't just about scale, it’s about context, community and commitment.” “Coaching clears out the noise so that people have better thoughts in which to help them do better work, while building up their tools of resilience.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.alexchinneck.com PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Have you been circling something in your practice for years? Maybe you know there’s more to say, a seam you haven’t mined, a truth you keep sidestepping. The work is there, waiting. But you’re afraid. Today, Ceri talks about the fear of making the work you’re supposed to be making—and what it takes to finally face it, explaining, how to name it, drag it into the daylight, re-address it, and then turn it into creative fuel. From Ceri´s experience of working with 1000s of artists over 35 years, every great work, whether tightly conceptual, minimal or wildly expressive, begins with an artist willing to face themselves. The question isn't only what you make, but whether you're able to be with yourself long enough sitting in the uncomfortable valley of knowing and not knowing to let the work be born. KEY TAKEAWAYS Fear is the border guard of your best work. But fear is also data, and for the artists who dare to name it, fear often points directly to where the gold is buried. Sidestepping your fears is counter-productive. The very strategies you use to survive are the ones that eventually hold you back. Real creative freedom comes thru facing your fears head on by using honest self-reflection, safe support and creative rituals to process difficult experiences through your art. Ceri shares several practical examples of how she has helped artists work with their fears to create stunning work. BEST MOMENTS “What if the work you’re meant to be making is the work you’re most afraid of?” “By first drawing, then making with bits of shite left around the studio, as if he were responding directly to that moment, he shifted the power dynamic. The work gained a bite.” “Sit with your journal, sketchbook, or a voice memo and finish this sentence three times: “When I think of fear, I remember…” Don’t censor. Let it pour out. ” PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

What happens when an artist, educator, curator, returns to the wilds that raised her and dares to reimagine what a museum could be? Francesca de Brock is the extraordinary chief curator at the Anchorage Museum in Alaska. Her work braids together social practice, environmental justice, a fierce commitment to care, and a deep understanding of what artists need to thrive. KEY TAKEAWAYS Growing up in Alaska, the wildness of the place and problem-solving in a challenging environment shaped Francesca´s creativity and approach to art. Francesca is committed to climate-conscious exhibitions, artist access, onboarding, and amplifying community voices. Leadership is about asking better questions and inviting others into the process, rather than having all the answers. BEST MOMENTS “Our mission is to be a museum of people, place, planet and potential in service of a sustainable and equitable north, with creativity and imagination for what is possible.” “Exhibitions are ephemeral, but the ripple effects on institutions, audiences and relationships can be lasting and transformative.” Francesca Du Brock www.anchoragemuseum.org https://www.instagram.com/fdubrock Francesca Du Brock is Chief Curator at the Anchorage Museum. Her work is informed by her background as an artist and educator and is grounded in social engagement, place-based storytelling, environmental justice, and experimental museum practice. Recent projects including Dog Show (2025), How to Survive (2023), Black Lives in Alaska: Journey, Justice, Joy (2021), and Extra Tough: Women of the North (2020), which focus on topics of care, climate, interdependence, representation, Northern feminisms, and immigration. In 2020, she established the Museum’s Virtual Artist Residency program, which continues to provide unrestricted support to artists, sharing process and behind-the-scenes insights into their lives and practices. She is currently a fellow at the Center for Curatorial Leadership and is the recipient of the 2025 Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History from the Vilcek Foundation. Born and raised on Dena'ina Ełnena in Anchorage, Alaska, she holds an MFA and M.Ed and brings experience living and working across the US and Latin America to her current role. PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media https://disruptivemedia.co.uk

Today, Ceri talks about rejection. Something that is a part of every artist’s life - Applications declined. Emails ignored. Opportunities missed. And let’s be honest—it stings. For many artists, especially those who are neurodivergent, it doesn’t just sting. It burns. There’s even a name for this: Rejection Sensitivity. It’s more than hurt feelings—it can feel like an existential threat, a collapse, a shame spiral. Maybe you’ve avoided applying. Withdrawn from people. Overreacted to feedback. If so, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: you’re not broken. This is a common pattern, and you can learn ways to soften its impact. In this episode, Ceri walks you through some steps and reflections to help you notice rejection, reframe it, and keep creating. KEY TAKEAWAYS • Unchecked rejection sensitivity quietly shapes careers. It can hold you back from applying, make you quit too soon and keep you isolated. Or you may overcompensate, work twice as hard, say yes to everything and people-please your way into exhaustion. • Ceri shares 10 steps for dealing with rejection in a healthy way, so you can recognise, reflect on, reframe and learn from rejection and carry on creating. • If you have a rejection that you are still hanging onto, reframe it today. Release yourself from the negativity that surrounds rejection. You don´t have to let it continue to hold you back. You can choose to release yourself. BEST MOMENTS “Rejection is not proof you don’t belong. It’s proof you’re showing up.” “Rejection isn’t the enemy. Silence isn’t the enemy. Avoidance is. Not showing up is. And you—you’re already showing up. That’s where the magic begins.” “Step one is to recognise the pattern. First you have to notice it. Rejection shows up in emotions, the stories we tell ourselves and in the body - a tight chest, a racing heart, a stomach drop.” EPISODE RESOURCES If you prefer reading over listening? Ceri shares a short version of every episode in her Beat the Block newsletter—delivered to your inbox every Friday. Sign up at www.cerihand.com/subscribe PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, Ceri is joined by a man who doesn’t just witness the future of art, he builds the infrastructure for it. Georg Bak is a pioneering digital art advisor and curator who’s spent over two decades bridging the traditional and the digital. He has advised major collectors and museums, helped shape curatorial boards, and placed historically significant works into collections that matter. Georg is the co-founder of NFT Art Day and The Digital Art Mile, a boutique digital art fair that champions new ideas and new communities. He has curated landmark exhibitions, including the first-ever CryptoPunks show, and collaborated with Sotheby’s, Phillips, and The Vancouver Biennale. Whether you’re AI-averse or blockchain-curious, this episode’s for the thinkers and deeply curious. KEY TAKEAWAYS Digital art does not replace traditional art; it is a powerful expansion of it that builds on the existing foundations. When collectors recognise that true innovation comes from artists who challenge perceptions and provoke thought instead of simply following trends, the art world thrives. Success in digital art is deeply connected to building and engaging with communities and network effects. Building lasting trust and relationships, educating and going deeper on fewer pieces of work is leading to success. AI is opening up possibilities that are comparable in impact to the Renaissance. AI-driven tools are not only expanding artistic expression but also challenging traditional boundaries, making this a pivotal era for both artists and collectors. BEST MOMENTS “I think what makes maybe the difference is that the success of an artist is based on this community… The bigger the network behind an artist the more successful they are going to be.” “I would inspire everyone to open their eyes and be curious, instead of being against everything that's new.” “The most interesting artworks, they're not easy to understand in the beginning.” “Art isn’t static, it’s a system, a signal, a story still unfolding.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgbak PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Last week Ceri shared something different in her episode - Grief, the Technicolour Rattlesnake - and many of her listeners wrote in to say that they recognised it instantly. That rattlesnake is still with many of us. So today, Ceri shares how you can keep making, and functioning creatively, whilst grief moves through you. Ceri provides an alternative to trying to outrun grief by overworking, deadlines and filling every waking hour so there's no space for feeling. Or swinging the other way by hiding from the world and becoming convinced you've lost it. If you’re moving through grief right now, you might want to come back to this episode when you don’t feel so raw. KEY TAKEAWAYS We mourn, not just for the loved one, but for the person we were, in relation to them and to ourselves. It can feel like the ground has fallen away completely. Grief rewires us. Grief is a non-linear process that involves oscillating between loss and restoration, and it’s normal for emotions and productivity to fluctuate during this time. Creative expression during grief doesn’t have to meet previous standards. Small, honest acts of making can be both healing and meaningful, even if they feel insignificant at first. Supporting yourself through grief includes caring for your body, mind, and creativity. Movement, mindful breathing, creating micro works and finding safe rituals can all help. BEST MOMENTS "Grief rewires us … it is labour. It's your brain, body and heart rewriting the world without your person in it.” "Exhaustion isn't weakness, it's biology, which is why beating yourself up for not being productive is the cruellest trick of all." "Find your own strange scaffolding, the thing that makes you feel safe or gives your brain a rest, and don't underestimate the power of ritual." EPISODE RESOURCES https://cerihand.com/podcasts/personal-experience-and-artistic-expression-with-emma-talbot PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, Ceri sits down with Kathryn and Dan Mikesell, the powerhouse duo behind one of the world’s most respected artist residencies - Fountainhead Arts - a game-changing residency in Miami that’s not only shaping artists’ lives but reshaping the art world itself. They support artists in building sustainable, thriving practices and to build an art ecosystem that’s equitable, global, and deeply personal. This conversation is rich in wisdom for artists, curators, collectors, and funders alike. Kathryn and Dan share the radical generosity, strategy, and structure behind the residency’s success; why they’re committed to buying emerging work directly from artists and never flipping it; how they create chemistry between residents; and the importance of building genuine relationships that go far beyond the transaction. KEY TAKEAWAYS Kathryn and Dan have hosted 600+ artists, from 50 countries, turning their home into a launchpad for creative careers. Supporting fellow artists is essential for building a thriving, sustainable art community. Generosity, mentorship, and reciprocity create a culture where opportunities, knowledge, and encouragement are shared, while also strengthening your career. Stay top of mind by regularly touching base with people and sharing your authentic self-e.g. Personal details like what books you are reading helps people to connect with you on a personal level and continue to support you. BEST MOMENTS “You have to put yourself out there. If you don’t naturally have that confidence, you have to push yourself to build it .” “Generosity and reciprocity are really the most important parts of building the kind of community that you want around you.” “Confidence is a muscle. Success looks different for everyone. Building your world begins by showing up, again and again, with authenticity and curiosity.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.fountainheadarts.org https://www.instagram.com/fountainheadarts dan@fountainheadarts.org PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. ** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership ** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network ** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com ** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Not long ago, Ceri asked one of her favourite artists if there was a subject they’d like her to write about in her weekly Beat the Block newsletter. They said, “making through grief.” When she shared the question on Instagram, a surprising number of you asked for the same thing. Having learned a lot about grief: through losing her own family and friends, through study, and through supporting clients as they navigate it - Ceri decided to tackle the subject. But instead of diving into science and tools, she found herself writing about how grief actually feels. At first she thought it might be too naff, weird, or c*p to share. But she had written it, sincerely, for you, so decided to take the risk and share it, just as you do daily. If you’re too raw at the mo, you may want to skip it and come back to it, but if you listen and it lands with you, please let Ceri know. KEY TAKEAWAYS The experience of grief is deeply personal and often invisible to others, yet it profoundly shapes artistic expression. Grief can become a constant, unpredictable presence in the creative process. It can both stifle and fuel creativity, making the act of creation feel risky but also necessary. Even in the depths of grief, noticing and appreciating small, everyday moments of beauty can offer inspiration and help you reconnect with your creativity. BEST MOMENTS “Grief is the unwelcome guest in the studio, a technicolour rattlesnake, hypnotic, terrifying, distracting, poisonous. You can't ignore it.” “Grief doesn't just strip you bare. It also hones your vision. It makes the random sacred. It reminds you to notice, to hold close, to find magic in the everyday, to be braver, to care.” “This is grief my friend. I too have a technicolour rattlesnake of grief. Its bite floored me too, but here I am with you. We'll dance with yours together until you are both ready for it to shed its skin.” PODCAST HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership/ **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/ **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

This week, Ceri is delighted to introduce you to the extraordinary Ben Luke, who has spent three decades at the heart of the art world, his voice shaping how we hear from artists—now it’s his turn to share what shaped him. A writer, broadcaster and host of A Brush With… and The Week in Art, his new book What is Art For?, published by HENI, gathers 25 conversations with established international artists including Michael Armitage, Phyllida Barlow, Jeremy Deller, Ellen Gallagher, Theaster Gates, Julie Mehretu and Doris Salcedo. You’ll hear about his early life in suburban Kent, how drama classes shaped his voice, why Warhol and Dalí obsessed him as a teenager, the critics and pop stars who influenced his style, and the moments that pushed him to stop painting and start writing. Most of all, they unpack what drives and motivates him after 30 years in the art world—and why he believes artists hold the keys to how we see and live. KEY TAKEAWAYS Encounters with Warhol, Dalí, Bowie and Eno, changed Ben´s outlook and sparked his imagination. They inspired him to embrace creativity and explore new ideas. Ben’s parents nurtured his creative ambitions and never curtailed his dreams, while his father’s strong political values instilled in him a sense of curiosity, openness, and commitment that shaped his path as a writer and critic. Criticism doesn't have to come from cynicism. It can come from love. Interviews can be collaborations rather than interrogations. The true measure of art is whether it helps us see differently, feel differently. So keep following the references and going down the rabbit holes, because art, as Ben suggests, isn't just for looking, it's for living. BEST MOMENTS “I remember everybody I ever liked being described as pretentious, so I saw people being called pretentious as being a badge of honour.” “Fund culture. It makes us better. It makes us more human. It makes us more alive. It makes us understand each other better.” “The responsibility of the critic is to engage as deeply as possible with the work before writing about it.” GUEST RESOURCES Ben´s Book - published by HENI - https://heni.com/shop/books/what-is-art-for https://www.theartnewspaper.com https://podcasts.apple.com/gt/podcast/a-brush-with/id1525997434 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-week-in-art/id1280469178 HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. **** Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership **** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network **** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media https://disruptivemedia.co.uk

Today, Ceri talks about the one skill that completely changed her life. Not a new app, not a productivity hack, but negotiation. As a recovering people-pleaser, Ceri used to dread negotiating with challenging people. She´d avoid it, overgive, or undercharge. When Ceri faced a challenging experience with a narcissist that nearly overwhelmed her, she learned from negotiation expert Kwame Christian. Since then, negotiation has empowered her to get paid fairly, build healthier collaborations, and stand her ground—even in tough situations. Whether you’re selling a piece of work, applying for a commission, or setting the terms for a group show—you are negotiating. So, let Ceri get you ready to do it with confidence and care. KEY TAKEAWAYS Before negotiating know what you want and why, learn about who you’re negotiating with, and acknowledge your feelings. Preparation is crucial—ask yourself questions to clarify goals, needs, and possible barriers. Research the other person. Stick to your values and boundaries. BEST MOMENTS “Negotiation has become a superpower. It´s helped me get paid properly, build healthier collaborations and feel more grounded even in tricky situations.” “No is not failure. Your time, energy and sanity have got value, and sometimes walking away is the wisest decision.” “Practice makes powerful. Practice your negotiation skills in low-risk settings first.” EPISODE RESOURCES Kwame Christian - https://negotiateanything.com HOST BIO With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals. ** The Artist Mastermind Circle: Ready to stop second-guessing and start building momentum in your art career? Applications are now open for the next Artist Mastermind Circle—a six-month coaching programme for mid-career artists who are serious about growing their confidence, income, and opportunities. Apply by September 15th, 2025, at https://cerihand.com/artist-mastermind-circle and take the next bold step. Ceri Hand Coaching Membership: Group coaching, live art surgeries, exclusive masterclasses, portfolio reviews, weekly challenges. Access our library of content and resource hub anytime and enjoy special discounts within a vibrant community of peers and professionals. Ready to transform your art career? Join today! https://cerihand.com/membership ** Unlock Your Artworld Network Self Study Course Our self-study video course, "Unlock Your Artworld Network," offers a straightforward 5-step framework to help you build valuable relationships effortlessly. Gain the tools and confidence you need to create new opportunities and thrive in the art world today. https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network ** Book a Discovery Call Today To schedule a personalised 1-2-1 coaching session with Ceri or explore our group coaching options, simply email us at hello@cerihand.com ** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/