Extraordinary Creatives

In this episode, Ceri speaks with Jennifer Higgie, whose evolution from painting lemons to shaping Frieze magazine spans more than two decades. She opens up about the realities of the art world, the necessity of creative discipline, and her mission to respect artists' work with authenticity. Through her shift from art critic to author uncovering hidden women artists in art history, Jennifer demonstrates what it takes to build and sustain a creative life. Her thoughts and experience of writing's emotional toll and the exposure of sharing creative work resonate deeply, while her practical experience serves as both a roadmap and reminder for other creatives.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Jennifer developed her disciplined approach to writing through 23 years at Frieze, treating it like a ‘normal’ job with strict deadlines and word counts while learning the importance of stopping at the right time to maintain quality She deliberately positioned herself as an "enthusiast" rather than a critic, choosing to write primarily about work she felt passionate about rather than producing negative criticism To sustain her writing career, she worked as a waitress for 15 years, preferring this to desk jobs as it didn't interfere with her creative headspace She built and maintained vital creative networks across London, Berlin and Australia that have supported her throughout her career transitions After experiencing burnout and anxiety, she sought CBT support, which helped her learn to distinguish between real and hypothetical anxieties Her research into overlooked women artists led her to discover how much messier and more inclusive art history is than she was taught As reviews editor at Frieze, she developed a systematic approach to balance coverage between established institutions, emerging artists and everything in between. Her experience taught her that writing requires accepting that most work goes into a void of silence, with rare but meaningful moments of connection with readers BEST MOMENTS "Writing is very much like dropping a pebble into a very deep pool or well, and very occasionally you hear a faint splash, and that's about it" "The idea of super bohemian artists going wild and drinking or taking lots of drugs... you can't last very long if you do that" "Paintings are like portals, you look in, you look into them, and you go into them, and then you travel around a bit, and you come out again" "Everyone has a story...and it's your responsibility to find out what that story is" "Art history was for too long taught as if it was carved in stone" "I'm infuriated by the idea that history was written as if it was all about white male achievement" EPISODE RESOURCES Guest Links: https://www.jenniferhiggie.com/ Instagram @jennifer_higgie Book Link: https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/jennifer-higgie/the-other-side/9781474623322/ PODCAST HOST BIO With over 30 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/  **** Build Relationships The Easy WayOur 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 [email protected] **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

Ceri brings together three artists who transformed the Green Man Festival into a magical artistic playground. Lexi Zelda Stevens, Megan Broadmeadow, and Angela Davies share their experiences of creating ambitious installations in challenging outdoor environments. From holographic fans in the woods to midnight performances on rafts, they reveal the intricate dance of artistic vision, technical expertise, and weather management. The trio and Ceri give practical advice and inspiration about producing large scale public art and talk about the importance of building strong support teams. KEY TAKEAWAYS Lexi believes the key to successful festival art programming is having meticulous contingency plans while giving artists complete creative freedom to lead their vision Megan discovered that having triple the expected technical support proved crucial when personal emergencies arose during installation of her holographic installation Transforming her gallery work for an outdoor festival context opened up new possibilities for Angela's performance and audience engagement. Producing festival art requires creating a calm, supportive environment amid chaos, focusing on safety while letting artists maintain creative control. Festival audiences interact with art differently than gallery visitors - some prefer to simply observe, while others want to understand the technical details. Angela realised that staging work next to water created unexpected opportunities for reflection, both literally and metaphorically, in her practice. Lexi's experience showed her that the best commissioned work comes from trusting artists who haven't worked outdoors before rather than playing it safe. Through her midnight performance, Angela discovered that festivals can create intimate, quiet moments of connection even within a busy event environment. BEST MOMENTS "Being a producer is kind of like saying sorry and thank you a lot. And maybe I hear you as well in there." "Don't work alone. You're going to need some friends. You're going to need support. Use people's expertise." "I was laying on this body of water where the film was projecting kind of beyond me... it was quite magical." "Creating imagery that transcends the festival... and forgetting that you're even at a festival, that was really powerful." "Just dream big" "Don't try and make the art. My role is very clear in that I'm leading on safety and passing over audience experience." "The opportunity to make something potentially super large scale that sat next to this body of water, this pond, on the estate... it was really incredible." EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.greenman.net Guest links:  Angela Davies https://www.angeladaviesartist.co.uk/ @angeladaviesartist Lexi Zelda Stevens:  https://www.lexizeldastevens.com/ @helpingartistsmakework (producing)  @LexiZeldastevens (own practice)  Megan Broadmeadow https://meganbroadmeadow.com/ https://www.instagram.com/meganbroadmeadow_artist/ PODCAST HOST BIO With over 30 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/  **** Build Relationships The Easy WayOur 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 [email protected] **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

Ceri speaks with Dhikshana Turakhia Pering, who has over 18 years of experience in museums, galleries and the wider cultural and creative world. As Head of Creative Programmes at London Museum, Dhikshana talks to Ceri about her journey from Science Museum explainer to cultural leader and reveals how her neurodiversity shaped her approach to leadership. She discusses the importance of joy and hope in creative programming, authentic leadership and making culture accessible to all. Throughout the episode, it is clear that Dhikshana’s mission is closely aligned with her own experiences and upbringing, giving her authentic passion in everything she does. KEY TAKEAWAYS Dhikshana manages her neurodiversity through good preparation, practising presentations three times, detailed scripting, and developing organisational systems that help her lead effectively while maintaining high standards Throughout her career, Dhikshana has developed programming based on starting from a place of empathy and respect, actively listening to communities, and ensuring representation becomes embedded in institutional structures Her leadership style evolved from recognising that being authentic means maintaining consistency across all interactions while learning to set boundaries between her professional and personal life She created the "triangle model" framework at London Museum, focusing on intellectual depth, lived experience, and universal themes to build strong creative programmes that resonate with diverse audiences Her involvement with Museum Detox has shown her the vital importance of professional networks in providing support, solidarity, and advocacy for diversity in cultural institutions Dhikshana's career transitions were guided by listening to her gut instinct while building support systems that allowed her to make bold moves when necessary At London Museum, she combines programming that sparks joy and hope while addressing serious social issues and civic action, drawing from her personal experiences growing up in Camden Her approach to team leadership focuses on creating psychological safety while maintaining clear structures, drawing from both positive and challenging experiences throughout her career journey BEST MOMENTS "If you can hold the attention of 14 year old boys while you're on stage delivering a show about digestion, where you're talking about poo, like you can pretty much hold the attention of anyone." "I'm glad we're in a world now where 12 year old me right now somewhere would find out they were dyslexic and be like, cool. Like, what do I need? How do I do it?" "I was told I would never be a leader because I smile too much...The smile is a big thing. It makes people feel welcome and comfortable with me. And then they tell me lots of stuff that's really helpful." "Being your authentic self means being genuine to everyone around you...They know, they meet you, they hear you, they hear what you're interested in and how you're going to do this." "The way I am, my empathy, the way I love chatting to people, the way that I can listen to someone and then retain loads of information is really important."   EPISODE RESOURCES Guest Resources: https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/ https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dtpering PODCAST HOST BIO With over 30 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/  **** Build Relationships The Easy WayOur 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 [email protected] **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.

Ceri interviews Gavin Wade, the visionary artist curator behind Eastside Projects and Senior Research Fellow at Birmingham City University. From his early love of comics to founding one of the UK's most innovative art spaces, Gavin talks to Ceri about transforming the art world through collaborative practices. His story of creating a new kind of gallery space, winning a £120 million market redevelopment project, and maintaining artistic integrity while pushing boundaries is both inspiring and practical for anyone interested in making their creative mark. KEY TAKEAWAYS Gavin's approach to artist collaboration shows how repeated engagements over time create deeper, more meaningful projects - rather than rushing one off exhibitions, he builds lasting relationships that allow ideas to naturally evolve into innovative work. Through establishing Eastside Projects, Gavin demonstrated how to create a new kind of art space by selectively adopting elements from commercial galleries, museums and artist run spaces while rejecting conventional limitations. His early immersion in comics and DIY culture shaped his understanding of self publishing and community building, providing foundational principles that continue to influence his approach to art making and curation. Gavin's success with Eastside Projects stems from his ability to balance ambitious international programming with local artist development, he recognised that both elements are essential for meaningful impact. His revolutionary perspective on gallery spaces rejects the notion of neutral containers, instead treating them as living artworks that continuously evolve through each exhibition and intervention. Gavin built his confidence in the art world through consistent action. Each successfully organised show and new connection strengthened his position and opened up fresh opportunities. His involvement in the Smithfield Market project demonstrates how artists can meaningfully influence city development when they're involved in early planning stages rather than being brought in as an afterthought. Gavin maintains creative sustainability through clear boundaries - implementing regular working hours, extending installation periods, and prioritising family time, proving that balance enhances rather than diminishes artistic output. BEST MOMENTS "As soon as I was on my degree, I just thought, well, I'm an artist, I might not be as good yet, but I'm trying." "There is no such thing as an individual artwork. There is always a relationship between the artwork and its environment and other artworks and other things that have appeared in that space in the past or will appear in the future." "I didn't even know what a sculptor was particularly at that point. There was a little bit of modelling, like clay modelling and stuff, which felt a little bit boring, like I could do it, but it wasn't that exciting." "The art world is about supporting artists and careers and trying to come up with ideas, but to do it, it needs to reinforce societal status quos that are very aristocratic." EPISODE RESOURCES Artist Links: Eastside Projects, Birmingham https://eastsideprojects.org/ Instagram: @eprjcts Gavin Wade  Instagram: @gavin_wade_ PODCAST HOST BIO With over 30 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/  **** Build Relationships The Easy WayOur 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 [email protected] **** Discover Your Extraordinary Creativity Visit www.cerihand.com to learn how we can help you become an extraordinary creative.