Ceri is joined by Sorcha Dallas, custodian of the Alasdair Gray Archive in Glasgow, Scotland in this episode. Sorcha shares her path from artist to commercial gallerist and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. Discover how Sorcha’s resilience, honesty, and collaboration have shaped her creative career and her current role in preserving Alasdair Gray's legacy.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
Sorcha’s creative journey was influenced by her supportive art teacher, access to free cultural spaces in Glasgow, and her time at the Glasgow School of Art.
Running Switchspace, a peripatetic gallery in domestic and semi-derelict spaces, taught Sorcha the importance of community, peer support, and taking risks.
Sorcha’s experience as a commercial gallerist highlighted the challenges of the art market and the need for authenticity and direct impact on people's lives.
Meeting Alasdair Gray and working with him on various projects, including his retrospective, inspired Sorcha to focus on non-hierarchical models, community work, and being hopeful.
Sorcha’s role as custodian of the Alasdair Gray Archive involves fundraising, setting up as a charity, and creating a non-hierarchical organisation that embeds Alasdair's ethics and approach to making.
The archive focuses on public engagement, education, and creative commissioning to keep Alasdair's work generative and prove its value to different people.
Sorcha's new learnings include the importance of facilitative leadership, relinquishing control, and allowing others to support and grow the archive.
Alasdair Gray's legacy of hopefulness, despite life's challenges, is a central message Sorcha wants to pass on.

BEST MOMENTS 

"I'd lost a lot of hope, I think, in the commercial art world, and that kind of dovetailed with me leaving it and starting my own family. And I think children are really hopeful and people would talk about Alistair being kind of childlike, and I think that's what they mean." 

"I think the older you get, the more jaded you get with life and what's going on more widely in the world, but to remain hopeful about people, about the next encounter, about the next situation is really the best that you can do."

"I feel hugely privileged to kind of hold this space for others and I'm learning kind of every day from the many different people that I work alongside, and through the archive too." 

"If you create a kind of horizontal model, the kind of personal growth for you and for others is huge. But that's about relinquishing control and about genuinely allowing others to help support and grow that." 

"I think it's about being a good teacher, it's about noticing people, it's about people feeling that they can contribute and bring their own lived experience into that. And that's a really central thing to what we create here." 

EPISODE RESOURCES

https://thealasdairgrayarchive.org

PODCAST HOST BIO

Meet Ceri Hand, the driving force behind countless creative success stories. A creative coach, entrepreneur, and dynamic speaker, she's committed to empowering creatives to realise their dreams and make a meaningful impact through her creative coaching, mentoring and training company. With three decades in the arts under her belt, Ceri has ridden the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Now, she's here to help you achieve your goals, your way.

****

Join Unlock Your Artworld Network our 5 step, self-study video course that will give you the tools and confidence you need to make a network in the artworld that will open doors for you https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/

Book a coaching consultation call with Ceri hello@cerihand.com

Discover how we can support you being an extraordinary creative here: www.cerihand.com

Ceri is joined by Sorcha Dallas, custodian of the Alasdair Gray Archive in Glasgow, Scotland in this episode. Sorcha shares her path from artist to commercial gallerist and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. Discover how Sorcha’s resilience, honesty, and collaboration have shaped her creative career and her current role in preserving Alasdair Gray's legacy.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
<ul>
<li>Sorcha’s creative journey was influenced by her supportive art teacher, access to free cultural spaces in Glasgow, and her time at the Glasgow School of Art.</li>
<li>Running Switchspace, a peripatetic gallery in domestic and semi-derelict spaces, taught Sorcha the importance of community, peer support, and taking risks.</li>
<li>Sorcha’s experience as a commercial gallerist highlighted the challenges of the art market and the need for authenticity and direct impact on people's lives.</li>
<li>Meeting Alasdair Gray and working with him on various projects, including his retrospective, inspired Sorcha to focus on non-hierarchical models, community work, and being hopeful.</li>
<li>Sorcha’s role as custodian of the Alasdair Gray Archive involves fundraising, setting up as a charity, and creating a non-hierarchical organisation that embeds Alasdair's ethics and approach to making.</li>
<li>The archive focuses on public engagement, education, and creative commissioning to keep Alasdair's work generative and prove its value to different people.</li>
<li>Sorcha's new learnings include the importance of facilitative leadership, relinquishing control, and allowing others to support and grow the archive.</li>
<li>Alasdair Gray's legacy of hopefulness, despite life's challenges, is a central message Sorcha wants to pass on.</li>
</ul>
BEST MOMENTS 
"I'd lost a lot of hope, I think, in the commercial art world, and that kind of dovetailed with me leaving it and starting my own family. And I think children are really hopeful and people would talk about Alistair being kind of childlike, and I think that's what they mean." 
"I think the older you get, the more jaded you get with life and what's going on more widely in the world, but to remain hopeful about people, about the next encounter, about the next situation is really the best that you can do."
"I feel hugely privileged to kind of hold this space for others and I'm learning kind of every day from the many different people that I work alongside, and through the archive too." 
"If you create a kind of horizontal model, the kind of personal growth for you and for others is huge. But that's about relinquishing control and about genuinely allowing others to help support and grow that." 
"I think it's about being a good teacher, it's about noticing people, it's about people feeling that they can contribute and bring their own lived experience into that. And that's a really central thing to what we create here." 
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://thealasdairgrayarchive.org
PODCAST HOST BIO
Meet Ceri Hand, the driving force behind countless creative success stories. A creative coach, entrepreneur, and dynamic speaker, she's committed to empowering creatives to realise their dreams and make a meaningful impact through her creative coaching, mentoring and training company. With three decades in the arts under her belt, Ceri has ridden the highs, the lows, and everything in between. Now, she's here to help you achieve your goals, your way.
****
Join Unlock Your Artworld Network our 5 step, self-study video course that will give you the tools and confidence you need to make a network in the artworld that will open doors for you <a href="https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/">https://cerihand.com/courses/unlock_your_artworld_network/</a>
Book a coaching consultation call with Ceri <a href="mailto:hello@cerihand.com">hello@cerihand.com</a> 
Discover how we can support you being an extraordinary creative here: <a href="http://www.cerihand.com">www.cerihand.com</a>

Extraordinary Creatives: The Premier Art Podcast

Welcome to the Extraordinary Creatives podcast, your gateway to the world of exceptional artists and creative leaders who have defied the odds to make a significant impact in the arts and beyond.

Hosted by Ceri Hand, creative coach, curator, and seasoned arts and business insider, this podcast offers a wealth of insights into art and creativity through in-depth interviews. Ceri’s extensive experience and genuine passion for the arts make every episode a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice.

At the heart of Extraordinary Creatives is the belief that creativity is essential for success. However, it is the courage, confidence, and resilience to dare to be different that truly transforms the world. With her warm, playful, and straight-talking style, Ceri delves into the ideas, processes, mindsets, victories, and challenges of trailblazers who have paved the way in the arts.

Ceri’s mission is to support 100,000 artists and arts leaders by 2025 by providing exclusive access to information, inspiration, and expertise. Discover the transformative power of art with Extraordinary Creatives. Tune in and follow so you don’t miss an episode!

Extraordinary Creatives: The Premier Art Podcast
Welcome to the Extraordinary Creatives podcast, your gateway to the world of exceptional artists and creative leaders who have defied the odds to make a significant impact in the arts and beyond.
Hosted by Ceri Hand, creative coach, curator, and seasoned arts and business insider, this podcast offers a wealth of insights into art and creativity through in-depth interviews. Ceri’s extensive experience and genuine passion for the arts make every episode a treasure trove of inspiration and practical advice.
At the heart of Extraordinary Creatives is the belief that creativity is essential for success. However, it is the courage, confidence, and resilience to dare to be different that truly transforms the world. With her warm, playful, and straight-talking style, Ceri delves into the ideas, processes, mindsets, victories, and challenges of trailblazers who have paved the way in the arts.
Ceri’s mission is to support 100,000 artists and arts leaders by 2025 by providing exclusive access to information, inspiration, and expertise. Discover the transformative power of art with Extraordinary Creatives. Tune in and follow so you don’t miss an episode!

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