I did think I was going to write a sort of review of the year, as that seems to be the done thing. But then I realised I just couldn’t be arsed. It was a bloody good year, I got given a big wheelbarrow full of unexpected money by the Arts Council and I spent it doing the most amazing things with other artists and musicians. Pretty damn good. There’s only a tiny bit of it left out of the initial payment, and at some point soon I’ll get the final 10%.
Everything I have done has turned out even better than I thought it would be. I come out of it with more skills and a clarity of vision about what happens next.
I’m grateful ACE said yes, humbled that they thought my project worthy, that I was worth the risk. The after-effects of having that money will be felt for many years to come.
I won’t have a studio after December 31st, but I am at last able to see this as a good thing, and that moving out of the other space was required for my practice to move on. A steadier, calmer approach to finding a new space has sort of been thrust upon me, but pragmatism has taken over… it’s all ok.
I am often frozen by inertia. I am held fast by my comfort blanket. Although the world seems to enjoy throwing stressful changes at me… I have had enough of them over the last couple of years to make me realise that they are the catalyst for me getting my bum into gear. So this is the latest… I have various options… Starting small or throwing caution to the wind…. which?
In the new year, I am going to look at a few places, some cheap, some expensive, some that might be able to generate income, some that won’t, some I can share, some I can’t… some close to home, some daringly close to the city centre… there will be weighing up of possibilities.
But I think it will come down to the first thirty seconds. It will come down to that unquantifiable thing that makes your hairs stand on end.
Apologies to those who like my Audioblog… the house is full of noise and people at the moment. When it goes quiet I will catch up – promise!
