2 minute read
Editor’s Note
by artiqannual
I am incredibly excited to present the first-ever Artiq Annual. A huge thank you to every single contributor; this journal has been a long time in the making and is a showcase for what we, and our collaborators, are doing to create impact with culture.
Creativity is too often presented as a hobby, something you do on the side that doesn’t make a career. Reading these stories, you’ll discover that many people with creativity express it not only in their professional roles but as a key element at the core of who they are. You are guaranteed to be inspired by Will Gompertz, whose early experience working in a supermarket influenced his approach to leading the art direction of Europe’s largest art complex, the Barbican, and by Yinka Ilori, whose communitycentred practice proves the impact of art in untraditional spaces. We are also proud to present Almuth Tebbenhoff and Aisha Seriki in a cross-generational conversation about the realities of working as artists and how they have pursued their creative callings, despite surroundings and circumstances not always encouraging it.
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To those of you in business reading this, you’ll be able to see the tangible impact of engaging with creativity. We profile one of the most significant mixed-use developments in London this year, The OWO, and the ambitious BID project with The City of London, City Vistas.
To the artists and creatives: we want to prove that the arts can be self-sustained. It can be your career, not just your side hustle.
And to the arts professionals working within this incredible industry, we hope to show that there are career paths of note within the sector that we all love so much; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
In establishing this business now 13 years ago, my intention was to prove that the creative and cultural economy can stand on its own two feet. This publication is a collection of stories to show the impact Artiq is having and highlighting the fact we are not alone in our desire to put creativity at the centre of society.
Patrick McCrae, Co-founder and CEO
