HCOC Interview

Hull City of Culture Interview

I was recently contacted via email about an interview with Hull City of Culture's website. The lady, Ellie Churchill, said she'd found my Dear Self zine work online and was wondering if I was available for a recorded interview to be published on their website (https://www.hull2017.co.uk/). Hull was chosen as City of Culture 2017, and it was a surprise to be contacted by one of their team. After a few back and forth emails we arranged to meet at Thieving Harry's for a drink and a chat.

Going for this interview I was more than a little nervous. I'd never done an interview before that was about myself and my work as a professional practitioner, I didn't know what kinds of questions Ellie would ask or how the whole thing would pan out as a whole. She told me that a photographer would be coming along to take some photos of me for the article too (cue internal screaming). 

Nerves aside, I went to the interview as I do with all things that shake me up a bit, a false sense of confidence and cool breathing. I think I come across as quite a confident speaker and practitioner, even at times when I don't feel it. It's helpful to have a level head in situations that might make me feel a little worried; it was just a chat about my artwork and some photos, it would be fine.

I found once I'd met Ellie and settled in a little bit, talking and answering questions came quite naturally. There were a few blank spaces, and a little uncertainty when she brought up questions about the future of my practice, but overall I feel like it went well. The photography aspect was a little cringey, and my cheeks started to ache from all the smiling at the camera, but I left it feeling I'd learn a lot. Ellie also assured me if I thought of anything else I wanted to say post-interview I could email her no problem. The interview is set to go up around mid-October time.

After Note & Networking

After the interview, I asked Ellie how she'd found my work. It figures the night I gave Stew his copy of Dear Self, Ellie was there. She knows Stew through various music events (Ellie is also in a band 'Chambers') and she saw the sticker on the front of the zine I'd given him. She asked where he'd gotten it and Stew told her he had a friend who made zines and did illustration. Shortly after that she saw some more of my work in the 'Something Against Hull' zine Alan put together at the start of summer. She decided to reach out via email and ask about an interview. 

Networking is SO IMPORTANT !!! The amount of commission work I've taken on this Summer through my strong links in Hull alone is crazy mad and something I definitely want to continue expanding for the future.