INDUSTRY FOCUS
Briar Holt, Gallery Manager, fortyfivedownstairs
Briar Holt is 26 and the Gallery Manager at fortyfivedownstairs in Flinders Lane, Melbourne. fortyfivedownstairs is a 15 year old not-for-profit curated space for both live performance and visual art. This unique theatre and gallery space is regarded as one of Melbourne’s most renowned and multi-faceted creative hubs.
Briar is a New Zealander with an Honours and Master’s Degree in Art History. Her previous work experience includes the role of Gallery Administrator at Blue Oyster Art Project Space in Dunedin. I’ve been at fortyfivedownstairs for just over 2 years now. I started out as a Gallery Coordinator and quickly took on more responsibility in terms of programming. I became Gallery Manager within 4-5 months. I am grateful for the trust and respect that has developed between myself and the fortyfivedownstairs team - on both a personal and business level.
Gallery Manager is a big job and I spend at least 35-40 hours a week (often weekends) working on projects with artists and helping visitors to engage with the work we present here. But hey, I’m young and this kind of lifestyle suits me! I just love the people I meet. The gallery attracts such a wonderfully diverse range of artists and visitors and I love meeting and engaging with all of them.
Artistic Director and co-founder of fortyfivedownstairs, Mary Lou Jelbart, said that they interviewed Briar via Skype from New Zealand and instantly enjoyed her company and recognised her wide knowledge and understanding of contemporary art. One of the things that has always appealed to me about New Zealanders is their matter of fact attitude to survival in the arts, says Mary Lou. They take it for granted that there’s precious little money available for the arts, and they just get on with making things work. Briar is no exception. Running a not-for-profit gallery is hard work. It doesn’t stop with selecting artists, and communicating with them: there are the invitations, media releases and posters to organise, the price list, the organisation of opening night, the sales (and follow up) and then patching the gallery and making it ready for the next show. Briar does all this brilliantly.
Briar’s best advice for other young people aspiring to work in the creative sector is to VOLUNTEER! To get started you just have to volunteer. I wouldn’t be where I am without having volunteered in the early days, while I was at uni. Even if it’s just one day a week - do it! It’s the best way to break into this highly competitive creative jobs sector. It really does make a difference. You don’t have to volunteer forever, in fact I advise that you also respect your skills and talent and discourage employers from taking advantage of you in the longer term – but in the very early days it’s the way you get ahead.
An important creative and work goal for Briar is to make sure galleries and theatres are accessible. It’s really important to me that all kinds of people visit and explore creative spaces and institutions, that artists and non-artists share and enjoy these spaces. Whilst high profile city, state and national art galleries and institutions impress me, I am just as impressed by less traditional creative spaces. For example, I just love it when people host shows in private homes, gardens, derelict store fronts etc. I love popup shows that are less planned and more experimental.
When asked where she sees her creative self heading, Briar admitted that her career goals change a lot, but that what always stays constant is her desire to support emerging artists.
Briar Holt is just the kind of young person Hoodie Mag is interested in. Supporting young emerging artists and industry specialists drives our creative goals too. We are thrilled to bring you her inspirational story and welcome others like Briar to get in touch, engage with Hoodie Mag and maybe get their story published in future editions.
@briarholt
@fortyfivedownstairs
fortyfivedownstairs.com
Photo 1. by Tiffaney Bishop 2. When I met Ai Weiwei at his NGV exhibition. One of the coolest experiences! 3. & 4. New York 5. Hosier Lane, Melbourne 6. Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival, 2017
