We need to collectively work on making the art world more personable, not more personal. We take so many things to heart. Every no, every rejection, every moment as it is personal- as it IS to us. So many people just give up making as the no’s just pile up so high, we cannot take the weight any longer. I am one of these people – I gave up making art for 9 years as I was all noped out. When did being creative become so much about other people? When did we as creative give others so much power over what and who we are?

How can we start unpicking why we feel so much hurt, so much imposter syndrome? Every single person I meet feels it. We need to start reclaiming the creative world as ours, we need to work more collectively to uplift, celebrate and just say no to this imposter syndrome which does not belong to any of us. As I am me, this is me – and no one can tell me any differently.

It’s not you, it’s me will be talking with curators who select work for open calls, who send out their no’s, but also feel and see it all as the artist themself. I know emailing you with ‘Sorry but this time your application was not successful’ is gonna hurt, I feel you – I have felt it.

This conversation will involve personal experiences on how selections are made, common mistakes which are made and a chance to hear just how selections are made. Often your ‘no’ has no value or reflection on how good the work is.

Afterwards we’ll break into small groups and share ideas, thoughts and get this conversation going to start working towards the changes that are well overdue!

About the Project

‘Let Us See You’ will be an 12 month project of curatorial artist support and development, and exhibition opportunities for Leeds based artists culminating in a series of exhibitions across the city at key partner venues. We want to open up the process of curation and selection for an art show by investing in artists from the very beginning of the process and offering support right through to the end; kicking off by hosting a series of accessible surgeries that demystify the application and selection process, that focus on what the artists’ needs are rather than a predetermined curatorial focus. ‘Let Us See You’ builds on the inclusive work of Aire Place Studios and continues to support the work of communities that experience barriers to participation.

Supported with funding from Leeds Inspired, part of Leeds City Council.