What Does Success as a Writer Look Like? - Interview V with Manjula Martin

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What Does Success as a Writer Look Like? - Interview V with Manjula Martin

Today I open the interview series "What does success in the Arts look like?" to another creative field: Writing! Creative work is a very broad field and I am interested in the different approaches and insights. So today I am talking to Manjula Martin, who edited the incredible book Scratch—where she asked writers like Cheryl Strayed, Roxane Gay, Jennifer Weiner and many more—on the realities of making a living in the writing world. Read her thoughts on fame, rejection, financial stabilty and role models here.

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What Does Success in the Arts Look Like? - Interview IV with Lauren van Haaften-Schick

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What Does Success in the Arts Look Like? - Interview IV with Lauren van Haaften-Schick

In several interviews I ask curators, academics, artists and other friends and colleagues from the creative field what their thoughts are on what success in the arts looks like for them. It is part of my long-term project "Art as Labor" that tries to approach labor issues in the arts and provide more personal conversations. It is not about working harder and to buy into the narrative that sacrification will eventually lead to success but about finding a sustainable way to work in the arts and to understand that creative work is a long-term commitment.

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Cheat Sheet: My favorite Culture Newsletters

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Cheat Sheet: My favorite Culture Newsletters

It has been stated a lot lately that Newsletters are the new blogs: online spaces for intimate conversations. In a time where trolling became a nasty side effect of publishing thoughts, newsletters might feel safer, especially for women. It seems contradictory that in an age where the inbox zero becomes a productivity goal, newsletters are making a comeback against all odds. Here is a list of my favorite ones around culture. Minds that share their curious findings and have a passion for their topics.

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Big Data or How to Assess Impact

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Big Data or How to Assess Impact

In all our effort to put the puzzle pieces of this world together, analyze data or predict behavior we forget that one little factor that is not consistent in their actions: HUMANS. Predicting actions has done more harm than good. Most data collecting has to do with short-term thinking, so I'm really wondering what it can predict. If a piece goes viral are we darned to follow a recipe that predicts the next success? How does a more reasonable long-term data collecting look like and what are the parameters for success and eventually long-term impact? What are the right time scales to perceive growth and value?

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Well-being among Arts Professionals and in Creative Work: Sacrification is Not a Badge of Honor

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Well-being among Arts Professionals and in Creative Work: Sacrification is Not a Badge of Honor

Self-care is a topic we usually avoid when talking about careers. We think that the mere admitting that we need to take care of ourselves might give the impression that we are weak. I didn't want to write about the topic in the first place because I feel that there are so many people out there giving advice and not walking their talk. I felt that the term became some sort of marketing strategy to sell you the latest beauty lotion. Anyways, the topic appeared in many conversations I've had with colleagues and friends over the last months on the topic of Art as Labor and I thought it might be time to finally share some thoughts I find valuable.

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What Does Success as an Artist Look Like? - Interview III with Pau Quintanajornet

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What Does Success as an Artist Look Like? - Interview III with Pau Quintanajornet

In several interviews I ask curators, academics, artists and other friends and colleagues from the creative field what their thoughts are on what success in the arts looks like for them.  It is part of my long-term project "Art as Labor". 

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DLD Conference 2017 Key Takeaways: The Future of Work, Education, Fake News & More

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DLD Conference 2017 Key Takeaways: The Future of Work, Education, Fake News & More

I had the great pleasure to spend last week at the DLD17 in Munich. As usual on conferences of this kind I wish I could have a sneak peek into the notebook of the participants around me. Everyone will find different insights valuable and notable. Here a little glance into my key takeaways on the future of work, education, fake news and more...

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What Does Success in the Arts Look Like - Interview II with Karen Klauke

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What Does Success in the Arts Look Like - Interview II with Karen Klauke

In several interviews I ask curators, academics, artists and other friends and colleagues from the creative field what their thoughts are on what success in the arts looks like for them.  It is part of my long-term project "Art as Labor". 

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What Does Success in the Arts Look Like? - Interviews I with Yvette Greslé & Isabelle Tondre

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What Does Success in the Arts Look Like? - Interviews I with Yvette Greslé & Isabelle Tondre

Success in the arts seems to have some sort of mythic silence attached to it. Some become visible within the art market, in Biennales, or academia while others will never reach broader audiences –  at least not on the terms they defined as successful. Success seems to be related to power, money and fame. In a world where we glorify hustling and we wear constant busyness as some sort of badge of honor, I would love to open the conversation and try to define values for art as labor and to fill the term success with as much individual honesty and thought as we can. Success in the arts seems so vague that I am really wondering why people start to measure all their doings through this term without having defined how a sustainable approach looks like. We become obsessed with constant production, are afraid to take a break and are encouraged to be as competitive as possible. Is this ecosystem the only surrounding in which success in the arts is possible?
Find out in this inspiring interviews.

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