Following the success of our first group course, we are now welcoming applications from mid-career artists to participate in Rocket Booster 2

This is an intensive online group course, designed to help contemporary artists
build a thriving, creative practice.
Share and learn as part of a select group of 16 artists with
similar career-level experience to you.

The course takes place over five days and will provide participants with the inspiration, support, knowledge,
and tools required to boost their studio practice and establish a sustainable creative career.

The course takes place on Zoom and via the Artists Mentor Community website, built on the Mighty Networks platform. Here you will have access to lesson plans, supporting course materials, group discussions, useful resources, and recorded videos of all the live Zoom sessions.

To discover more and apply, read below and complete the form at the bottom of this page.

The course is led by experienced mentor, creative coach, and art world insider, Ceri Hand.

Day 2 will be co-hosted with  Alkistis Tsampouraki.

About Ceri Hand

Ceri has three decades experience of working in the arts and cultural sector, and has curated over 250 exhibitions and events.

Before establishing Artist Mentor, she served as Director of Programmes at Somerset House in London, which is one of the UK’s top 10 tourist attractions, attracting over 3 million visitors a year.

Find out more about Ceri and her career experience here

About Alkistis Tsampouraki

Alkistis lives in Athens, Greece, and is an Associate Director of Exhibitions & Special Projects at the Breeder Gallery, Athens, an advisor for the Alekos Fassianos Estate and the curator of the contemporary art programme of the Alekos Fassianos Museum, (launching September 2022).

She was based in London from 2013-to 2020; from 2018-2019 she held the position of Artist Manager and Museum Liaison at Blain Southern Gallery, London/Berlin/New York, and from 2015-2018 she was an Artist Liaison at Simon Lee Gallery London/Hong Kong/New York, supporting artists internationally, strategising and building their careers.

In recent years, Alkistis has supported artists with exhibitions at the Breeder gallery, museums and public installations, writing for catalogues, publications, and production amongst other responsibilities.

Alkistis completed her MA in History of Art at University College London, specialising in Expressionism, New Objectivity, and Dada in Weimar Germany.

Feedback from artists who took part in Rocket Booster 1

“The course and the delivery were great. Really well thought out and considered”

“I gained insight and clarity into how the art world works and how I can gain access. For the first time in my life I can see the route in!”

“I had underestimated the importance of someone believing in you. We are often made to feel like outsiders. I really needed Ceri, and the group, to say "you can do this; you belong in the art world"

“Ceri oozes knowledge and experience of the contemporary art world and also of the challenges that face individual artists. She has an excellent ’straight to the point’ approach - done with care!”

What you can expect from the course

• Gain insight into art world systems and how they affect career progression
• Share and learn as part of a select group of 16 artists with similar career level experience to you
• Learn how to set income targets and achieve audacious goals
• Receive valuable, insightful feedback on your work
• Learn how to harness your strengths and refine your practice
• Discover how to best promote and share your work
• Learn how to establish new contacts and build important relationships in the art world
• Learn how to price and sell your work
• Learn about new approaches that will help streamline your studio systems

Course dates & times

• Day 1 Friday 8 April 2022 (10am-2.30pm BST)
• Day 2 Friday 22 April 2022 (10am-2.30pm BST)
• Day 3 Friday 29 April 2022 (10am-2.30pm BST)
• Day 4 Friday 6 May 2022 (10am-2.30pm BST)
• Day 5 Friday 13 May 2022 (10am-2.30pm BST)

The Artist Mentor Community

In addition to the live teaching sections of the course, you will receive a FREE MEMBERSHIP to our newly created Artist Mentor Community platform, built using the amazing Mighty Networks.

Here you will be able to:

• Access free resources, worksheets, videos, and swipe files
• Receive invitations to our free, monthly Coaching webinars with Ceri Hand and invited guests
• Ask questions of Ceri Hand and other industry experts and receive help and advice
• Participate in online discussions with fellow artists in our dedicated chat rooms
• Take other short online courses designed to provide you with all the skills and confidence you need to succeed in your creative career
• Receive our Artist Mentor Community newsletter

The Artist Mentor Community can be accessed both on your computer and the dedicated Mighty Networks phone app.

At the end of the course, you will have gained the confidence and know-how to take your career to the next level…and all with the help and support of a new community of supportive artist peers.

How to apply

Please register your interest in joining the Rocket Booster 2 online course by Monday 21 March.

Complete the online form at the bottom of this page, providing as much useful and interesting information about yourself as possible, so that we get a real sense of who you are and what you’d like to get from the course. Please use simple, plain English.

We aim to curate a symbiotic cohort with the aim of establishing a useful network.

We will notify all applicants as to whether their application to this cohort has been successful, by email, either on, or before, Friday 25 March.

Cost

The course costs £950.

This fee covers:

• 5 days of intensive live teaching and coaching by Ceri Hand, supported by the Artist Mentor Community Team
• Course documentation and supporting materials
• Access to the Rocket Booster course platform (course lessons and videos of the live sessions will be available to review in here after the course has ended) and the Artist Mentor Community Network for 12 months.

Please note we require payment in full on acceptance of the course via secure online payment no later than 10 am Friday 8 April 2022.

If payment is not received by this date your place will be offered to the waiting list.

Feedback from artists who took part in Rocket Booster 1

“I really enjoyed the past 4 weeks and got loads out of it. It gave me the Rocket Boost I needed 🙂 I've had loads of ideas and instigated a number of ways to get my work out and make connections”

“The quality of materials was brilliant”

“It's been great to connect with other artists and talk about ideas and work. We've talked about many things outside of the course - which has been so insightful”

“I feel that I am involved in a much wider community which is exciting instead of feeling on the margins”

“The available resources are great and I will continue to refer back to them time and time again”