Our Job Profiles are designed to describe how those interviewed have reached their current position and for them to give advice to graduates seeking a similar career.
Co-Director of Beacon Art Project John Plowman talks about his career progression and his advice for fine art students and graduates.
John Plowman graduated with a first class honors degree in Fine Art from Leicester Polytechnic in 1980. After leaving University John he decided to take some time out from studying before starting an MA course. During this time he moved to London to set up a studio and started to develop his fine art practice.
In order to fund this practice John signed up for unemployment benefits and took full advantage of the grants that were available at the time. However the situation for fine art graduates has changed since then; unemployment is perhaps not so much of an option. John also funded his practice by taking on part time decoration work which further influenced his practice. John now is able to fund ‘Beacon Arts Project’ through arts council funding.
While on his Fine Art MA at Goldsmiths John exhibited in ‘The New British Sculpture ‘ show. The show attracted a lot of attention and lead to further opportunities and exhibitions. John expressed how important it was for artists to be in London at this time and he still feels that this is relevant today, students need to be within a cultural encounter centre to start a successful fine art practice, whether this is London or Glasgow.
Jonathan Jones recently commented on the importance of location by discussing the success of Sheffield based artist Haroon Mirza.
John stated that he never had an action plan, careers plan or even a plan as such. Students and graduates need to be prepared to take risks. While John was at University opportunities for exhibitions were rare and this has changed significantly; students have a lot more opportunities open to them and they should make use of these. Students need to engage with artwork and exhibit outside of the University. Students need to engage with work as much as possible, go to London and visit as many galleries and exhibitions as possible in order to develop a passion for the subject. Along with visiting exhibitions students and graduates will also benefit from attending as many private views as possible both within Lincoln and outside the region. John revealed how shocking it is that many fine art students have still never even visited an art gallery!
John advised fine art graduates to take time out from academia, do not do an MA straight away. This will give you a clearer understanding about how to make art outside an institution environment, this will also give you time to clarify things. In your time out find a way to make art and be involved in art, he stated that graduates need to keep an eye of their ambition and try not to lose this focus.
John Plowman started his role as fine art lecturer at the University of Lincoln in 2000. This role resulted from networking at the private view of his own exhibition at the Usher Gallery. Networking is invaluable in order to get yourself known and respected within the industry.
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