Artist and ex-Westlake student Sara Moana joined the team from Depot, Devonport’s Centre for Creative Futures, for an inspiring Career Bites session about careers in Visual Art.
Sara Moana is a full-time illustrator who has been commissioned to work on a variety of projects for organisations ranging from Amnesty International to Converse. Sara graduated with a Master of Fine Arts, First Class Honours, from Elam School of Fine Arts, The University of Auckland. “I didn’t plan my career; I hadn’t given much thought to what I would do after year 13,” explains Sara, “but my art teacher made a fleeting comment that ‘I am Elam material,’ which encouraged me to apply for Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland.” Sara encouraged students to pursue their dreams and be proactive about networking to make a successful career out of fine art.
Depot staff members Dilohana Lekamge (Exhibition Curator and gallery Manager), Amy Saunders (Director), and Catherine George (Wayfind Creative Programme Manager) discussed how their individual arts careers have developed and introduced the specific programmes at Depot that artists can use to develop their careers. Dilohana is a writer, curator, and gallery manager at Depot; she reinforces the importance of networking when it comes to career opportunities.
“Some of the work offers I have received have come from places I didn’t expect – from the network of people I have met and stayed in touch with,” explains Dilohana. Catherine George and Amy Saunders described some of the skills, such as marketing, accounting and business skills, that artists may need to develop to make a career out of being an artist. Depot runs a programme for artists that teaches these skills and a programme to help artists find work. “You never know who is going to help you next in your career, so make good relationships with everyone,” advises Catherine.
“I got my break in the world of television production by being organised and doing a little bit extra; people notice that.”
Catherine and Amy highlighted the importance of creative thinking in a changing world, “If you are creative, that means you can think outside the square and solve problems, which is what the future workplace is going to demand.”