
Fresh Arts Podcast
A 1-hour, conversational podcast for artists that aims to provide different viewpoints to different issues relevant to the contemporary creative’s career development by simply asking: should I or shouldn’t I? Artists of the Houston community from all walks of life and practices provide their insight, experiences, and expertise through a series of questions, both organic and pre-set, that will ultimately answer this main question. The guest artists are curated to provide alternate viewpoints in hopes of guiding listeners to draw their own conclusions based on their own situation and practice, whether it be visual, performing, and/or literary arts (amongst others). There will be no right or wrong answers at the end of each discussion, just explorations of the decisions artists make everyday to succeed in their creative practice.
Episodes
12 episodes
S2, Ep 5: Should I or Shouldn’t I be both a Parent & an Artist?
Being a creative is tough work: planning, research, drafts, creation, revision, audience engagement, etc., etc. Add to that: finances, health, networking, any number of things it takes to succeed as a creative and/or small business. Starting a ...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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46:49

S2, Ep. 4: Should I or Shouldn’t I Identify as Emerging, Mid-Career, Established, etc.?
You could be a writer with ten years of writing experience and still be considered ‘emerging’ after your first book comes out. You can be a painter with years of experience, exhibitions, recognitions, and clients and be considered ‘mid-career.’...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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46:51

S2, Ep 3: Should I or Shouldn't I Address Political/Social Issues in my Work?
Artists can do many things with their work to combat injustice: begin or contribute to larger conversations affecting people; bring light to an issue not being addressed by society; conceptualize a solution to a problem in a new way; etc. But s...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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45:13

S2, Ep. 2: Should I or Shouldn’t I Work for Free?
“It’ll pay in exposure!” artists have heard time and time again. Often, this just means doing something for free, that being featured on a platform is somehow a form of compensation in and of itself. Artists should value themselves and their wo...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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45:55

S2, Ep. 1: Should I or Shouldn’t I Collaborate With Another Art Practice?
Are you a sculptor considering collaborating with a writer? A dancer wanting to work with a filmmaker? A graphic designer looking to create something with a fashion designer? An artist’s creative imagination knows no bounds. However, how do you...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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48:36

S1, Ep. 6: Should I or Shouldn't I Invest Time & Funds in Applying for Opportunities?
You see them packed into artist bios: residencies, grants, fellowships, awards, etc. What are they? What’s the difference? Are some better than others? A residency may grant you time to live rent-free to work on your art, but can you just...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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57:15

S1, Ep. 5: Should I or Shouldn't I Start a Non-Profit?
Not every artist considers their practice a small business, but the government does. Many creatives use this fact to their advantage by using business structures to grow and/or fund their practice. An artist will find several benefits as an ind...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:03:05

S1, Ep. 4: Should I or Shouldn't I Seek to be Represented by a Professional?
Representation uniquely manifests in different creative fields: curators, agents, gallery owners, editors, producers, etc. With audiences, collectors, and revenue more accessible than ever with the internet, creatives’ reliance on representatio...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:01:24

S1, Ep. 3: Should I or Shouldn't I Get an MFA?
According to a study by M-AAA, artists are one of the most educated populations amongst working sectors. However, degrees and/or institutional support has never been, nor should be, the deciding factor on whether or not someone is a legitimate/...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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52:48

S1, Ep. 2: Should I or Shouldn't I Move to Another City for its Art Scene?
Each city is its own ecosystem of artists, organizations, and revenue with particular notions of identity and value. For example, Austin is known as the music capital of Texas, but Houston boasts one of the largest & most diverse population...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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56:17

S1, Ep. 1: Should I or Shouldn't I Go Full-time with my Art Career?
The stereotype of the starving artist still pervades the social conscious, but creatives know it’s more complex than that: you work to feed yourself, family, and the art. The question becomes, “How much time can I dedicate to my craft and pay r...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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52:23
