ISSUE 4: WHERE THE HELL DO WE BEGIN? THE GRADUATE DREAM

Issue: Where the hell do we begin? The Graduate Dream

Convener(s): Pat Ashe



Summary of discussion, conclusions and/or recommendations:

This is just a list of what happened as it happened. It may not make sense.
• Grad jobs/internships – can you afford to work for free/ Are unpaid internships worth it/
• Should you be told the ‘truth’ about jobs before you leave training/uni?
• University should be equipping you with the skills you lack (covering letters, taxes, cv writing) Student should be feedbacking, demanding change once they have left.
• How you do it? Working to live, finding time to make and create. Fitting your art around ‘real’ work.
• Support over funds.
• A graduate open space? Pooling resources among the grads. Meeting every one else who has just been let loose.
• Knocking on the big doors, pulling open the cracks.
• Why London? Create a new artistic community. A new place to make work rather than chasing those already here.
• Corporate connections – We can give you this, what you can give us? (theatre deli – example of strong connections to companies)
• Grab it. Living choices/ licensed squats – live for cheap.
• Sweet talk the council/local businesses – make them look good to get what you want. Connect the people.
• Drama school resentment – not teaching the basics.
• Are we lazy? Ask for it, don’t wait for it.
• ‘Know what you don’t know’
• Admit what you don’t know, ask for that help.
• Don’t wait to be told you are good enough. Accept you are good enough.
• Feedback on your ideas with each other, share.
• The amount of freedom is overwhelming. Be liberated. You’re free. Focus on the positive, just go for it. Try, approach everyone. Stand on your own two feet.
• The freedom challenge, spoon-feed vs. challenge in education.
• Failure. Learning, embracing. A richer experience is fail more? Opens more spaces and avenues in your work. Danger making a better show?
• The scratch model? Whats wrong with being unfinished. Why say sorry?
• The pressure to make work straight away. 1 year before next flood of grads.
• Process is important at the start of your career. Make some shit work.
• Young companies, are we too easy on them? Looking at their possible future work over their current work.
• The link from maker to audience, ask a producer now, don’t wait 10 years to do it.
• How important is the spectator in new work/the reason for creation?

That was it briefly.