1
Studying
There are hundreds of cheap or free classes on all sorts of different topics going on in the capital (and all over the country). You can't usually predict the kinds of people who will end up in your class, but if you choose your subject area carefully, you may end up with some like minded and local friends.
Back to top
2
Volunteering
There are loads of opportunities to volunteer in whatever field interests you. There are lots of arts and cultural organisations which are virtually run by voluntary staff, and you'd be able to find things that suit your time commitments – opportunities arise from full time, through a few hours a week, to an occasional basis. Volunteer work can be a particularly good way to meet people who are more established in their careers, and is often a great way to find out about opportunities that aren't advertised elsewhere.
Back to top
Where to look
If you have a specific organisation who you would like to volunteer for, give them a call. Sometimes organisations forget how many people are willing to work for free! Otherwise, check out www.csv.org.uk or www.do-it.org for loads of different options, and at times that suit your other commitments.3
Professional Goals
There are many informal, artist-run groups who support each other professionally by providing peer crits, sharing studio space, or working together for group shows. These can be very informal, just friends who have got together, or can be supported by arts organisations such as Craft Central (formerly Clerkenwell Green Association), your Alumni Association or take a look through the listings on ECCAs website under "Directory - Specialist areas".
Back to top
4
Parties
You can go to a party and spend all evening talking to the people you came with, or you can take a deep breath and go up and introduce your self to someone else. If you do this in twos it's a bit less daunting, or you could always ask the host to introduce you to someone that you might get on with.
Back to top
Accept every invitation
Even if an event sounds deeply unpromising, you just never know until you’ve given it a go.5
Social Networking Sites
Sites like Facebook and MySpace could work for you if you’re looking to build on your circle of contacts (check out "University of the Arts- London" group on Facebook). Having said that, if you’re looking to be a bit more focused in who you meet based on your work or practice then using more subject-specific sites like STUART or New Work Network might be more relevant to you.
Back to top
6
Working
Again, it's hard to predict the kinds of people you'll end up working with, especially if it's a part time job that is not directly relevant to your chosen professional path, but it is often a great way to build up a new group of friends. It can be hit and miss, and you can't guarantee to make life long friends, but when you're thinking about a job, do try to identify the kinds of organisations where other people like you are likely to work.
Back to top
7
Interests
Working on a joint project is a great way to develop a close bond with a group of people. You could either look for a group who are involved in the professional area that you are in (e.g. printmakers, community artists, creative partners etc.) or you could just think about the kind of thing you’ve always fancied doing and see if you can find a local group – sports, performance/theatre, conservation etc.
Back to top
8
Friends of friends
The chances are that you will probably quite like most of your friends' friends. Ask your friends to invite you along when they go out with other groups of people, or invite them along to something that you fancy doing. Pubs and clubs Particularly if you have a few regular haunts you can start seeing familiar faces. If it's busy, join someone else's table and strike up a chat. Again, this is probably easier with a partner in crime! If there is a particular organisation that you are interested in working for, you could try and find out which pubs their staff tend to go to after work.
Back to top
This website is brought to you in association with:
All contents © copyright Creative Careers