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.
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 family seems like another bale of straw on the camel’s back, so to speak. But artists and creatives can have families and fruitful art careers. We will have two guests discuss the apprehensions, transitions, frustrations and joys of having an arts pract...
21 Oct 2021
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.’ Or you can just not care about any of that. What is the point of those labels anyway? Who finds them useful and why? How do you use them to your benefit? We will have two guests explore career labels, what their experiences are with them, and when they...
14 Oct 2021
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 some issues are so vast and large that even addressing it presents its own series of issues. One could enter a conversation with generations of artists having already laid the groundwork, requiring research and participation before engagement. A good que...
7 Oct 2021
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 work by requesting monetary payment. However, artists are also vital members of their community that can serve in various roles: advocate, volunteer, supporter, activist, etc. Does one interact with a small community center the same as an institution with...
30 Sept 2021
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 even begin defining your project’s parameters if you’ve never seen a model for it before? Can you work with someone if you don’t speak the same artistic language? We will have two guests to discuss their experiences in developing and executing inter/mu...
19 Nov 2020
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 up and leave your life like that? A grant can give you funds to complete a project, but how long does that last? An award can add attention to your work, but what do you do with that momentum? There are pros and cons to some blessings, after all. We wi...
12 Nov 2020
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 independant, for-profit small business, and a non-profit provides another model of funding & structure that’s more commonly recognized by artists. Should an artist consider a non-profit status to help their practice? We will have two guests to of...
5 Nov 2020
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 representation for success has diminished. However, representation can still prove to be an important element in an artist’s career through contacts, space, funds, and advocacy. We will have two guests to offer their experiences on navigating their successful career...
29 Oct 2020
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/good/worthy artist. MFAs, ideally, should be programs that help an artist improve their craft, but others have interpreted the MFA as a necessity to be ‘taken seriously’ as an artist. Not to mention, the ‘institution’ can be a stifling & uniforming ...
22 Oct 2020
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 populations in the United States. Should a Houston musician move to Austin to capitalize on that reputation? Should any artist move to another city for the sake of their art? Artists can find success in either scenario dependent on several circumstances. We will ...
15 Oct 2020
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 rent?” Artists have navigated this question in many ways but deciding to go full-time with their creative practice is a big leap for many. Others work full-time jobs to pay the bills and work on their art around that fact. Both bring their own pros and c...
7 Oct 2020
Episode 0: Promo
We did it! Fresh Arts follows up its Summit and Discussion Series with the podcast series "Should I or Shouldn't I?" that will air October 15, 2020. Listen to this promo to hear Reyes Ramirez and Angela Carranza talk about their experiences with creating a new venture and how they've adjusted to online programming, as well as some behind the scenes info on how the podcast was curated. Intro Music: "Ike is Gone" by Nick Gaitan Support the show
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