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Bow Skills Workshop: how to write about your artistic practice with Tom Ryalls
Thursday 16th March 2023 , 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Learn how to write about your journey as an artist and effectively articulate your practice in a range of arts-specific contexts in this hands-on workshop with writer, producer and fundraiser Tom Ryalls.
Finding the right words to describe your artistic practice and the work you’re doing in a way that feels authentic and really lands can be tricky – especially when you’re dealing with the multitude of different contexts and audiences that artists encounter when navigating the sector.
Taking your personal story and journey as an artist as your starting point, Tom Ryalls will guide you through a number of writing methodologies and strategies, including deep reflection on the importance of focusing on WHY you do what you do as opposed to WHAT you do.
We will then work through some hypothetical writing situations, before transitioning into how to adapt your story for different stakeholders, starting from your own individual and unique problem statements.
We will principally focus on writing to approach gallerists and commissioners, including how to put together an artist statement, but we will also dip into writing for marketing and fundraising purposes too if we have the time.
There will be plenty of opportunities for questions throughout, with the final part of the workshop reserved for Q&A.
Concessions rate applies to Bow Arts artists, students, over 65s, under 18s, National Art Pass members, and key workers
More about Tom Ryalls
Tom is a fundraiser and writer. They were one of the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Fellows with Cause4 in 2020, and part of the SSE Creative Leadership Programme for the last 2 years. They also sit on the London Area Council for Arts Council England, which is the governance body overseeing the new NPO round. They have previously been the Head of Development for NPO Stockroom and an Executive Director. Tom has delivered bids in excess of £1M but their practice mainly revolves around supporting artists and small companies develop the organising skills to swing the balance of arts funding away from large institutions.
Find out more at boyandpen.com/funds
About Bow Skills
Bow Arts seeks to support creative professionals at all stages of their careers. In 2015 Bow Arts launched Bow Skills in response to an artist survey which showed over 90% of practicing artists find it useful to receive further support outside formal education.
Bow Skills is a dynamic and relevant programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which is informed by an artist steering group and open to all creative practitioners across London. The programme of talks, panel discussions, new skills labs and peer crits is open to all, with concession rates available to students, over 65s, under 18s, Bow Arts artists and key workers.
Access information
The Bow Arts Trust office has step-free access throughout from street level, including to the accessible toilet, and is service animal friendly. This venue does not have a hearing loop system.
Accessible parking is not available on-site but blue badge parking can be found 500m away on Fairfield Road.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility at this venue or event, would like to make us aware of any access requirements that you have in advance of visiting, or would like this information in an alternate format including Easy Read, please email nunnery@bowarts.com or call 020 8980 7774 (Ext. 3)
Access requirements could include things like providing equipment, services or support (e.g. information in Easy Read, speech to text software, additional 1:1 support), adjusting workshop timings (e.g. more break times), adjustments to the event space (e.g. making sure you have a table near the entrance) or anything else you can think of!
Transport Information
Opening hours: Mon-Friday, 9am to 5pm
Address: Bow Arts Trust, 183 Bow Road, London, E3 2SJ
Nearest station(s): Bow Road (District and Hammersmith and City lines) is a 6-minute walk away, and Bow Church (DLR) is a 3-minute walk away.
Bus: 205, 25, 425, A8, D8, 108, 276, 488 and 8 all service the surrounding area.
Bike: Bicycle parking is located at Bow Church Station. The nearest Santander Cycles docking station is at Bow Church Station.
