Artists are often told they need to understand how curators, collectors, galleries and institutions think – how to position themselves professionally, build visibility, write applications, manage their profile, and navigate the art world effectively.

Some of this advice is useful.

But it often overlooks something far more important:

How do we sustain the emotional, intellectual, and imaginative conditions necessary to make meaningful work in the first place?

How do we protect curiosity, depth, confidence, risk, and ambition within a culture increasingly shaped by performance, speed, and constant visibility?

The art world should not determine the limits of artistic life. At its best, it exists to support what artists make possible.

And to do that well, artists need more than professional strategies. We need encouragement, conversation, reflection, challenge, community – and yes, the feeling that what we are doing matters deeply and can even feel, in the fullest sense of the word, awesome.

Studio Conversations begins as a series of online Zoom sessions exploring the realities of sustaining a serious artistic practice.

Drawing on over thirty years of experience as an artist, mentor, educator, and social entrepreneur, I will share the ideas, strategies, structures, and forms of dialogue that have helped me build a creative life rooted not only in making work, but in helping shape the kind of art world I want to live and work within.

Each session will explore the ongoing process of developing who we are, what we value, and how we live as artists in the world.

To support meaningful conversation and a strong sense of community, places are limited to 30 participants per cohort. Each session will include opportunities to meet other artists, share ideas, and develop connections beyond the sessions themselves.

Studio Conversations is intended as an evolving programme – one that grows alongside the community it gathers.

Its aim is simple:

To create the conditions from which stronger ideas, deeper connections, and more meaningful artistic lives can emerge.

Who is this for?

Studio Conversations is for anyone interested in deepening their artistic practice and developing a stronger understanding of what drives their work, thinking, and creative life.

The programme is open to artists of all disciplines at all stages of their journey who are looking for thoughtful conversation, meaningful reflection, and a supportive creative community.

How does it work?

The programme begins with a series of five weekly online Zoom gatherings led by artist Matthew Burrows.

Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email with access details for the first session. A new Zoom link and any accompanying materials will then be sent out weekly.

Each session includes time for discussion, reflection, and conversation with other participants.

When does it happen?

Mondays

7:00–8:45pm (UK time)

• Five weekly live Zoom sessions
• Recordings included
• Session notes provided

Open to artists working across all disciplines and levels of experience.

Cost

The full programme fee is £150 for five live online sessions.

This includes:

• five weekly Zoom gatherings
• recordings of all sessions
• session notes and supporting materials
• access to the participant discussion space

Places are limited in order to support meaningful conversation and a strong sense of community.

Refunds

Due to the limited number of places available, bookings are non-refundable once the programme has begun.

If you are unable to attend a live session, recordings and notes will be provided.