On Creativity and Curating an Arts Career Post- Graduation: An interview with Myf Halton

WRITTEN BY EM READMAN

Brisbane Creative and Curator Myf Halton sat down with Glass Magazine to talk about the non-linearity of creative careers and what she’s been working on after graduating in 2020.

Tell us about what you studied at QUT and when you graduated?

I studied a Bachelor of Creative Industries majoring in Art/Design History and Journalism and I completed my degree at the end of last semester, 2020.

What was your favourite creative project you worked on while at university?

Fave creative project definitely would’ve been being a creative director for Frocket Zine. This was such an amazing opportunity to be in a creative leadership role and produce a really forward-thinking fashion zine. It was a really fast paced collaborative project and really pushed everyone involved to do great work on a deadline. It was incredibly rewarding to then have a physical zine at the end as an example of all our hard work.

What has your creative career looked like so far, both in and out of university?

My creative career at the moment is a big jumble of internships, and short-term employment that have led me to meet some really amazing creatives and work on some really fun projects. I’ve worked on projects both in Australia and in New York, USA. I initiated a lot of these opportunities on my own to gain more experience. But university has allowed me to develop some well-established relationships with my tutors and lecturers. This has then turned into a bit of a professional mentorship which has been instrumental in helping secure graduate jobs.

How did you get into practising in mediums outside of what you originally went to QUT for, and what have you found the most love for?

It was important for me to experiment with creative mediums outside of study to engage with new communities and experience new

ways of creating. I’ve really found the most love for fashion and ceramics. Both of these have been an outlet for me to express myself creatively and have had a great deal of impact on my identity and how I perceive myself as a creative. Creativity often intersects with so many other professions that it is important to have a creative network that sits outside your current discipline

You currently work as the General Manager of Dabbler, a ceramics studio in Brisbane. How did that come about?

I had met Bonnie, the director of Dabbler Studio, a couple of times at creative networking events and initially reached out to see if she needed assistance when she had a retail space in California Lane. Since then, we stayed in contact and then began a professional relationship in 2020. I was completing my last WIL unit and didn’t want to intern at a gallery whilst in lockdown. I really wanted to use this internship to push myself so I pitched to intern for her and help organise and curate her first solo show with The Third Quarter Gallery. At this time Bonnie was also working on launching Dabbler Studio and I quickly became an integral part of the business structure. When my internship ended Bonnie employed me as an assistant which quickly turned into managing her new ceramics business.

Tell us your favourite thing about your experience with art practice, and your favourite thing about arts administration.

I really enjoy work that allows me to engage with art and different art practices on a daily basis. I’m always so fascinated to learn about different practices and finding new ways of seeing and experiencing the world. Arts administration allows me to do this and make artists concepts and projects a reality. I enjoy the collaboration and satisfaction of seeing a project through and getting to celebrate the community that comes along with it.

What do you think current students are missing in their understanding of what a creative career can look like?

I think my understanding of what a creative career is has changed a lot from when I first started uni. I thought you had to study and make connections and if you worked hard enough you would get a job. It’s really not that simple especially when you’re starting out. You

have to wake up every morning and choose to want a creative career because a lot of the time it won’t pay the bills. You have to do it because you love it. Whilst I am currently working a creative job that I love; I also have two jobs in hospitality so I can afford to pay my rent and eat. I understand that this is also just a part of being young and creative, while starting out. Creative careers are not linear - sometimes it will feel great like you’ve got a lot on and you’re working on lots of exciting things. But sometimes you might also have to make coffee six days a week and that’s ok.

What project are you currently working on?

Currently working on a few things… I’ve just started a radio show with some friends on 4ZZZ called Stacks On. Dabbler Studio is hosting a studio showcase in May that will be part of the Brisbane Art and Design Festival that I will be curating. I’m also working on building a website for myself so I can advertise and integrate more freelance work into my life!

Follow along with Myf’s work at @myf.h on Instagram.

Spoons

WRITTEN BY ASHTON DARRACOTT

Reset. An alarm because you want to wake up at four am to see the sunrise over the beach. A bone while you’re in the emergency room because you fell out of a tree that your mum told you not to climb but you did anyway because the big kids at the park were all doing it. A heart because you love too much, and some things just don’t work out.