Zealous Blog
All of our news, insights and inspirations in one place.
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New on Zealous: August 2017
If you’re running an open call, Zealous is jam-packed with loads of exciting new features and functions to help you succeed.
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We’ve been funded
It’s always been our plan to secure funds to allow us to grow and, ultimately, become self-sufficient. It’s important for us to raise from the right people to protect our community and we’re thrilled to say we’ve found that person!
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3 Questions from our Last Zealous Meetup
July Meetup speakers share their thoughts on the meaning and value of space, how politics impact creativity and what the UK needs to support our creativity.
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Support Emerging Creatives At Our Next Zealous Meetup
A Zealous Meetup like never before! Learn how to support emerging artists and growing creative communities.
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Is Personal Branding more Important than Authenticity
We celebrated our second installation of Zealous Meetups – another evening of cross-disciplinary connections, happy chatter, and a lesson in why creativity matters. Our panelists Lanre, Francesc, and Lennie swapped wisdom and shared experiences of dance theatre, holiday lights, and…
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Our first meetup: Creative Collaborations
Nearly 100 of us gathered in the Waterstones basement for drinks, laughs, story-sharing and a brilliant panel of collaborative creative professionals who cannot be stopped by funding, freak-outs, or other people’s parameters.
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Why We Exist
Creating isn’t easy. It’s a constant balance of making time to produce great work, seeking the resources to do so, sourcing the talent to make it happen, and keeping up with shifts in technology, distribution, funding…Whether you are creative, dependent…
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2016: A Year in Review
2016 saw us welcoming 10,000 people to Zealous X, organise an impromptu exhibit at the Green Rooms Hotel which sold nine of our artists’ works and put 32 of you in front of the UK’s biggest cultural organisations, and much…
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Guaranteeing Our Creative Future
It would be dangerous to blindly celebrate the creative industries success—we’re reaping fruit planted decades ago. Here are a few points we must consider to ensure our creative future.
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Coding Tips for Creatives
Coding provides us with the tools to build new worlds and engage new audiences. Here are some tips and tricks to help you get started.
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4 ways to find creative talent using social media
Social media is a welcoming, passionate community of creative talent. Here are 4 ways to find the artists, filmmakers and photographers you need.
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13 Zealous Reads You’d Be Silly to Skip
Here’s the article with all the code removed: Image by Freddie Marriage. Ah, September. Something about this month feels like the start of a new year. September is the time for lists, for new things, for a fresh start. We…
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Green Rooms Exhibition Party
Last night, the team kicked it in Wood Green for Green Rooms’ September Showcase Artist Launch Party – what an evening! There’s nothing like seeing a space light up with the work of Zealous artists. Congratulations to the nine artists…
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Zen: Applying the Principles of Interior Design to Your Craft
Here’s the article with all the code removed: Image by Katie Pankowski. We could all use a little more balance. Yin and yang, harmony. All that jazz. Point is, taking a breath isn’t easy for most of us. Relaxing doesn’t…
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3 Brilliant Reasons Why Your Creative Environment Matters
Our creative environments shape us, no questions asked. Whether our bedrooms, offices, studios, or balconies, the spaces we spend time in shape our thinking, our attitudes, and our work ethic. But too often, we ignore those spaces. We keep our heads…
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Why brands need to support indie designers
Image courtesy of Connect The Dots The work on the left is by LA based artist Tuesday Bassen, the right is on sale by high street chain Zara, with no attribution or credit given to the originator of the…
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Setting up your studio on a budget
Zealous artist Robert Hewer gives us his tips on setting up a home studio on a budget. DIY shops are your best friend when setting up a home studio[/inlinetweet]. All the basics you need can be found in in any…
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Building Empathy in the Arts: Beyond Buzzwords
Discover how arts organisations and corporations leverage the arts to generate value; not just to our economy, but to society as a whole
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Creative Collaboration: The Power of Creative Environments
This Zealous X talk focuses on the fruitful nature of creative collaboration. Learn more about how diverse environments can fuel collaboration and the artists who flourish in them. Hosted by Valentina Fois (Marketing Director, Zealous) with Greg B Davies (Founder,…
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What Behavioural-Quant Finance and Opera Theatre Have in Common?
Your skills as creatives live beyond the borders of our own industry. Find out how the most unlikely places create opportunity and enrich your career. Greg B. Davies (Head of Behavioural-Quant Finance) share with us his experience with Opera theatre.…
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Which Creative Skills Are Most Essential For Survival?
In this Zealous X talk, a panel addresses the current creative landscape and the most essential creative skills needed to succeed. They also address the role that employers can play in empowering creatives to further their education in collaboration with existing formal education systems. Hosted…
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Exploring Alternative Learning Methods for Creatives
Hosted by Akua Obeng-Frimpong (Head of Business Development, Zealous) this talk on alternative learning includes insights by Oliver Morris (Director of Education & Skills, UK Music), Sarah McLoughlin (Learning Development & Strategy Manager, Makerversity) and Zoheb Iqbal (Community Organiser, Startup Weekend) on how…
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6 Things to Help Creativity Flourish in the UK
Never have we had so much creative talent in the UK. However, it’s getting harder to support creatives. How can we make sure that creative is supported in the next generation and beyond, and remain global creative leaders?
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A Chat With Sarah Maple: How Can Artists Raise Money?
Valentina Fois (Director of Marketing, Zealous) and Sarah Maple (Artist) talked about collaboration, opportunities and funding for young and mid-career artists. Sarah shared her experience and insights with an engaged audience. Zealous X Talks Day 4: Sarah Maple Subscribe to…
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Zealous Visual Art Prize 2016
The £1000 prize will go to one exceptional artist to help them sustain their artistic practice, and continue doing what they’re best at. As well as the cash prize and the exposure the Zealous Visual Art Prize provides, this is…
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Alternative Arts Funding: How Do I Fund A Project?
Money’s hard to come by. Luckily, there’s always alternative arts funding. Peter Culshaw (Editor, The Arts Desk), Matt James (Grants Advisor, Wellcome Trust), Thomas Walters (Co-founder & Head of Creative Operations, Billion Dollar Boy), and Dave Birss (Editor at Large,…
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Is London Gentrification Causing Creative Migration?
Is the creative class moving (and if so, where are they off to)? Learn more about London gentrification and its impact on artists with Lillian Ogbogoh (Author, Storyteller & Woman Empowerment Facilitator, Soul Calling), Dr Andrew Harris (Co-Director UCL Urban…
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May Update: What’s New This Quarter
A jam-packed May update: it’s been a crazy year, and we’re not even halfway through! As Zealous races towards 10,000 users, more opportunities listed than ever before, and some seriously tasty site upgrades. We thought it was time to share…
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Diversity in the Creative Industry: Why It Always Matters
This engaging panel discussion focused on the much talked about theme of diversity in the creative industry. Quotas for BAME professionals, positive discrimination, sustainability and box ticking culture were explored in the liveliest and most interactive panel discussion of the…
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Why we need more women in film
When was the last time you went to the cinema, and one of the films being screened was directed by a woman?Chances are, this is a rare occurrence. A recent study carried out by the European Women’s Audiovisual Network has…
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Boost Communication Strategy With Personalisation
In a world of information overload, unique communication strategy is hard to come by. Generating specific individualised communication rather than stock generic automated messages is crucial! This conversation focuses on personalisation as a positive filter in communication strategy. Chaired by…
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Discover the Most Effective Audience Engagement
What’s the best way to master audience engagement? Learn from the pros. Learn from the best of the best as professional marketers, PR pros and strategists debate about the most effective audience engagement practices. Chaired by Teresa Potocka (Founder &…
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How Technology Empowers Artists in the 21st Century
In the 21st century, technology empowers artists. The brave new world of technological innovation and the possibilities technology can offer to all talented people to become as accomplished artists as they want to be was explored in ‘The Birth of…
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How Can Data Create New Creative Experiences?
Meet Holition, master crafters of digital experiences. They create new creative experiences by seamlessly bridging the digital and physical worlds and championing a future where any data becomes a potent dialogue for all to understand. Tommy Howard (Lead Creative, Holition) and Marcus Belcher…
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Reinventing the Arts: The Impact of Technology in the Arts
What’s the future of technology in the arts? Established arts institutions and their curators are often confronted with the knowledge gap when showcasing digital artwork. Reinventing The Arts explores in detail how technology is impacting creativity, and the areas where…
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Explore How Public Space is Used to Promote Creativity
Public space and the way it is used to promote or obstruct creativity was explored in “Making Space” at Zealous X Talks. The panel featured Kirsten Dunne (Senior Cultural Strategy Officer, Mayors Office), Dr. Rebecca Ross (Creator, London is Changing)…
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Innovate Your Way Towards New Funding Models in the Arts
With London losing more than 50% of its live music venues and only a small percentage of public funding supporting Visual Arts, this panel explores new funding models and the importance of artists/creatives acquiring entrepreneurial skills. Hosted by Susan Jones (Writer,…
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Grow: Exploring Creative Achievements and Challenges in the UK
Explore creative achievements and challenges in the UK, public funding opportunities, future plans and more! In the next couple of weeks, we will be sharing 30 inspirational podcasts of the talks, panel discussions and keynotes, from the Zealous X Festival. Expect…
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Zealous X Video Podcasts: Reminded and Re-Inspired
Empowering artists through video podcasts, coffee and pastries… There’s a real spring in our step this week. It’s lighter in the morning, the rain has abated (for now), and the new coffee shop by Zealous HQ is keeping us fully…
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How to List Your Creative Opportunity
How it works Listing a creative opportunity is quick and simple Simple Registration Creating your account takes no time at all. Add your listing Publish your creative opportunity and have it seen right away. Attract attention Get your creative opportunity…
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Engaging Your Audience in Meaningful Ways
Welcome to Wednesday! Today the theme was Engage. Zealous X generated some great discussion on a variety of topics, including diversity in the creative industry and engaging online consumers. Check out the Panel Talks below to learn more! Rules of…
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Grow: Explore UK’s creative future
What a great Monday! Zealous X kicked off with a very event appropriate theme, Grow! Take a look below to find out what was discussed at the panel talks: The Road to Empowerment The morning started with some much needed…
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Creative Industry Opportunities with Sir Peter Bazalgette
Sir Peter Bazalgette, chairman of Arts Council England, is asked to talk about the challenges and opportunities in today’s creative industry opportunities. Zealous is honoured to have been granted essential development funds from Arts Council England (chaired by Sir Pet!…
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Zealous’ Social Media Takeover: A Good Kind of Hack
Zealous X doesn’t just promote creativity, contemporary art dialogues, interaction, diversity, inclusiveness, innovation: it is defined by them. It is a combination of all the above notions and their practical explorations. It pushes the boundaries of interdisciplinary art festivals’ operation and perception. On that…
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Creative Audience Engagement: How to Keep Them with You
]It’s been everywhere lately. From top publicists to notifications on social media the term audience engagement seems to be creeping in every aspect of our lives. It’s in the newspaper, on your smartphone apps and if you happen to work…
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Evolve: Unlocking Our Brave New Digital World
With three panel discussions, an exciting keynote, two short films and loads of networking and synergy opportunities, the second day of Zealous X’s talks is providing you all technology enthusiast attendees with the essential tools to Evolve in the brave…
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Grow, Evolve, Engage, Challenge and Learn with us!
We are all creatives, but do we know what that means in today’s world? In a forever changing and competitive environment it is becoming more and more complex to identify the challenges and source genuine opportunities in the creative industry.…
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Zealous X Winners announced soon!
This Thursday the 5th, we will be announcing the winning artists whose work will be featured at the 2016 Zealous X Festival. We were amazed by the quality of all of the submissions we received, and the judges have had…
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UK Web Fest: Talk with Akua Obeng-Frimpong
This Sunday, the 25th of October, Zealous’ Head of Business Development Akua Obeng-Frimpong will join the UK Web Fest for a panel discussion about the opportunities and challenges of creating web series. Earlier this year the UK Web Fest held…
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Essential tips for UX/UI design
Today we introduce you to our awesome in house UI/UX designer, Chema Martinez. In June 2015 Zealous launched an open call for entries to recruit a full time designer for Zealous. Chema was the winner and started working with us…
