Phil Cole
When did I graduate from the University of Chichester? 2013 (That makes me feel so old!)
What course did I do? Performing Arts (Theatre Performance)
What am I doing now?
I've gone on to achieve a Distinction for my MA in Contemporary Arts Consultancy at Lancaster University and now work in the Investment Centre of Arts Council England as a Grant Management Assistant in Manchester.
What do I love about my job/artistic practice/lifestyle?
I really enjoy the fact that I've been able to marry the two things that I find most interesting; Business Management and the Creative Arts. I love being able to see the real world applications coming into the Arts Council, examining business plans and budgets and reviewing the ideas that artists from across England and beyond want to make flesh. The artistic practice that I discovered at Chichester has evolved into something that is difficult to describe. It's still creative but it feels more structured. My job is an office job - no getting around that - but I love that everything that I do is still routed in artistic practice, both my own and those whose applications I examine, review and assess. Working for the Arts Council has allowed me to still be part of the industry I love, whilst having financial security to pursue exciting side projects and see some amazing pieces of work in my spare time. I'm literally the luckiest guy, ever!
How did doing Performing Arts/Theatre at Chichester help me to do what I do now?
Studying Performing Arts gave me a voice. It gave me the space to discover who I am, both professionally and personally, and what I wanted to do after leaving. It taught me how to work productivity with people, how to adapt to different working environments and how to argue a point. It provided me with an idea of how the contemporary arts function on a fundamental level and how to apply the scientific method to creative practice. It give me an idea of the sort of MA I wanted to study and a foundation upon which to build a (hopefully) successful career.
What was my favourite moment/class/project when at Chi?
Oh, so many! I'd say my top three projects have to be: Production 2 during 2nd Year; because creating a piece about revolutions and having a battle with tanks and swords on stage was just so cool; Company Management, because it was the module that sparked my interest in arts business management and was the project that set me on the path to what I'm doing now, and finally my 3rd Year Solo Performance, partly because it was the last piece I performed at Chichester but also because it was an extremely personal piece of work built based on both my love of a well-known gaming franchise and my deep appreciation for the time I spent at University.
Best moments, Jamal Harewood (Now a professional artist) falling up the stairs on the first day in 2010, and me telling Rob Daniels in 2013 that he'd better be nice to me because one day I'd be assessing his Arts Council applications. I thought I was joking.
What do I most miss about Chi?
It's the freedom, I think: the freedom to experiment and try out new things. The freedom to just spend a day/week/month in studios with your friends, just creating. I'd also say I miss performing, just a bit. Even though I love my job, I do sometimes find myself dreaming about being in the space, surrounded by sheets of paper and random props, playing with some new idea. You never know. Maybe, one day, I'll bite the bullet and get creating again.
My advice for anyone starting in the Theatre Department this coming year....
It's okay to fail. At Chichester you're given the freedom to experiment, to ask questions, to think through problems and, potentially, find solutions (but more likely you'll just uncover more questions that are even harder to answer). It's the perfect environment in which to study this art form because you are given the room to just create. That's the only law. Create. You might make some horrible mistakes but Chichester will never punish for failing. And the faster you fail, the quicker you'll learn what you enjoy doing and where your strengths line. Just throw yourself in and see what happens. Learn from your failures and you might discover something about yourself or your practice that you didn't expect. Oh, and of course, *rolls eyes at the obviousness* Have fun!!
