How do I move from being a student to being a professional in the arts? There are so many decisions I have to navigate - how do I do that? What do I prioritise?
You likely have lots of questions like this swirling around your mind about the future after art school.
So why not host a hub event, inviting an older Christian in the Creative Arts to your gathering/meal?
Most creatives will know exactly what it is like to sit where you are sitting and would be glad to come alongside you to share their personal experiences.
You shouldn't have to look too far to find Christians who are working in the arts (they usually aren't that well hidden!)
- Ask around local churches - do they have any members who are working as professional creatives and might be willing to come and help you?
- Do you know of any alumni who have graduated from your University in the last 5 years? Get in contact with them!
- Ask the Arts Network - get in contact with us and we can help you to link up with local creatives!
It is helpful to identify creatives that:
a.) are actively working as creatives/in creative industries (as much as we love our hobbyist brothers and sisters, we want to invite people who can share their experiences of pursuing the arts professionally)
b.) share the core principles that your hub is shaped by. It is worth asking them if they are happy to sign the Doctrinal Basis so that you both are on the same page.
Check out the following article if you or they have more questions about this! https://www.uccf.org.uk/about/doctrinal-basis/why-we-have-a-doctrinal-basis
Once you have identified a lovely creative to invite, reach out to them and ask for their availability!
Remember you are asking them to give up their time to help you - so be polite, thankful, and communicate clearly as you chat with them.
Venue:
Make sure to book accessible venues in advance (and don't forget to tell your guest what this venue will be!). You may want to offer directions to the guest or offer to meet them somewhere outside the venue to make it easier for them to find.
Food:
What better way to break the ice than by sitting down together to eat together? Invite your guest to share a meal with you and the others at your gathering - make sure to check everyone's dietary requirements!
Inviting People:
As with any hub event you plan on running, you want to make sure people know to come along!
Advertise the event in your Christian Union gatherings, on Instagram and by word of mouth so people know it is happening.
Having a visiting professional creative is also a fantastic opportunity to invite non-Christian friends and coursemates along to see that you don't have to choose between being a Christian and seriously pursuing the arts.
Plan your time!
Whilst you do want to create a relaxed gathering, it is a good idea to have a rough timeline to help guide you through your time together. Giving this to your speaker in advance is also helpful so that they know what is happening next!
After getting to know each other around some food, you want to start getting into the interview!
Choose someone to interview your guest who is going to help them feel at ease and keep the conversation flowing.
Make sure to prepare your questions in advance and send them to your guest so they know what to expect.
There are some examples of questions to ask that you can also download from this page.
It is a good idea to have a screen or PowerPoint available for the guest to share their work for everyone to see (do ask them to bring in some visuals if relevant).
Do also open the conversation up and invite others to ask their own questions if they have any.
After your time is over, make sure to say a big thank you to your guest!
Ask them how you as a group can be praying for them, and spend some time in prayer together.
It is also a great touch to offer a gift and a card to thank them for the time they have given your group.
Get their contact details so that you can connect with them again in the future - they will be a great person to pray for and support you in your continued creative development.
Thinking about other events you could run as your hub? Why not check out our film night event outline.
