Checking in with HQ and preparations

 

This week I've been aware of the progress others on my Practice and Placement module are making in terms of actually working their placement. I'm finalising some details and awaiting some further feedback from the PMAG but I'm optimistic that I'm gradually moving in the right direction.  At the last group tutorial we had, we talked about recording the placement and assessment deadlines.  I'm considering if I'd need to do 4 days over 2 weeks at PMAG to give me time to collate everything I need to submit, so I've put it forward to them as an option.  I'm hoping to establish some firm dates next week and then we can really get things moving.  

It occurred to me that PMAG don't actually know my time frame for completion.  Pointer: I feel I've been very polite around inviting myself along to propose an idea about working together - but it's important that the placement know dates.  In December, when things started to move, February sounded like an eternity away..I mean, it was after Christmas, in an entirely new year and a different semester!  Reality check - it's now February 11th and I outlined the date that I needed to hand in my work to the PMAG yesterday.  If you can get things moving sooner rather than later.. do it.

At my practice and placement tutorial, we went over progress so far and I felt quite excited about what's now developing.  My tutor confirmed that it's really positive to have been introduced to the manager of the PMAG by the curator and my proposal has been well received with unexpected offers of studio space and funding.  It was really great to be able to have a discussion about the progress - I had my "sensible head" on for the proposal meeting so this has been an affirming day.  I'm really looking forward to spending some time together for then Riso printing at Airspace too - and feel in good mentoring hands for this activity.

I've now confirmed provisional costs for printing and paper and I've sourced some guidance about how many copies to produce initially.  I've factored in some margin for error as I know from the zine project that page placement can be a bit tricky.  

So how things stand today, I have a bit of time ahead of everything starting; I've decided to focus on prep. I've ordered a tripod for my phone so that I can practice recording using different video and photography approaches.  I'm going to arrange a comments book and some business cards so that people I meet on the placement can contact me. This will be helpful if any members of the public or PMAG staff are happy to sign a photo release form; if they change their mind or have feedback, they need to be able to contact me.  I'd not considered public interaction before the proposal meeting but it's now a real area of opportunity, to get feedback about both my art and what I'm doing with the PMAG, and to be able to record audience interaction.

I've also looked again at my proposal pack and made some tweaks following the feedback I had last semester.  I've edited down my CV to make it more concise and I've added details about risk assessment. 

This week I had a chat with someone on my course about blogs, They've chosen to do a private record using powerpoint, and they've added lots of photographs and copy documents that really illustrate what's happening. It made me consider that one image per blog may not be enough to fully show what's happening week to week. I think I'll be adding in more images from now and may go back retrospectively to add more too.

I've drawn from my project planning experience this semester and have listed actions and timeframes in an ongoing series in my Outlook calendar that I can check in on every week.  This should help to keep me focused and stop anything important from being missed or done too late. 

Image: 121 Practice and placement tutorial with Tutor. 

Practice studies this week....I'm making sure I make time to paint!