Being an artist is often a pretty solitary pursuit. When we – Niccy, Donna and friend Cheryl – decided to form Duck n Weave Artist Collective, a big motivation was having others to share ideas and problems with. Having planned an exhibition together, we began meeting monthly to discuss our progress. We found the company to be enjoyable, but more than that, meeting regularly helped us be accountable to ourselves.
From this beginning, we formed our Creative Exchange program, inviting people to join us for twelve months of facilitated reflection and goal-setting. What started as a small group of three participants grew as the years passed. We have mentored illustrators, writers, photographers, poets, pastry chefs, jewellers, painters, ceramicists, singers… We have worked with people at every level of engagement, from hobbyists to emerging artists, to those with a professional practice. And each new group we have brought together has shown us what a magical thing happens when creatives share space.
We strongly encourage you to bring together a few creative friends and start your own Creative Exchange group. As we have refined our workbook, we have kept at front of mind the idea that not everyone is comfortable leading a group. We have made suggestions for how this might work for you, as well as how you might build a larger creative network if you don’t have interested friends. Surrounding yourself with creative people can provide you with amazing opportunities for growth!
