From graduate to business executive!

[A.J.Tinning@xxxxxxxxxx]

Hello

Before I make my request, can I just say I've been a
'silent' stone list participant for some time, not yet
having had the opportunity to carry out any carving
myself but I hope to in the very near future once I have
a bit of free time, and I have learnt a lot from reading
your discussions about technique and theory.  It's good
to know that once I start I will have all the support
and knowledge I need in this discussion group to get me
through when things go wrong!

Right then.  My request is to all UK based stone workers
(a very loose term to cover everyone who works with
stone!) who have managed to get themselves in to the
wonderful position of being able to support themselves
(full or part time) through their art.  I am currently
studying for a Certificate in Arts Management in my
'spare' time and my final paper is about the support
art, craft and design graduates receive to allow them to
set up their own business doing what they love the most
- creating.  The initial idea for this paper is based
partly on my own experiences as a 3D Design graduate
 from Manchester Metropolitan University, and partly on
my work with students at Brighton University.

I would be very interested to hear your accounts of how
you survived your first years; what assistance you
received from what funding bodies; what helped or
hindered you the most; what your personal measure of
success was (i.e perhaps selling work is not the only
way we can be successful); what you feel the most
important pieces of knowledge are for graduates who wish
to be self-employed.  Your thoughts on the entire
experience would be very interesting to me.

I'd also be very keen to hear from those who are making
their first steps in to this world as well -  let me
know your experiences so far, your plans etc.

I look forward to hearing your 'life stories' and when I
finally manage to get down to carving my first piece of
stone, I'll let you know what happens...!

Many thanks

Alison Tinning