Extraordinary Creatives

• Step into Collaborations with Clarity, Openness and Curiosity - Francesca Du Brock

  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 [email protected] **** 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

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• Dealing With Rejection

  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 [email protected] **** 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/

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• The Next Art History is Being Written - Georg Bak is One of its Scribes

  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 [email protected] **** 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/

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• Grief, the Studio Companion (Part Two)

  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 [email protected] **** 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/

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• Building Community, Shaping the Art World: The Fountainhead Arts Story

  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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] ** 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/

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