MEET OUR JULY SPEAKER: JOANNA SÜSSKIND

CreativeMornings Glasgow HOME event will be Friday, August 6th 8:30-10am. Get your free ticket – Everyone is welcome!

What comes to mind when you think of home? A physical place? A city? Loved ones? Would you ever take the leap and build your own? Like lots of creative endeavours, it seems like a cool idea, but how would you even start? When we saw that this month’s theme would be HOME, we could not pass up the opportunity to invite our very own Joanna Süsskind to speak on the theme. Looking at Joanna’s experience of jumping into new things, taking risks, and creating cool projects and businesses (life drawing club drawing hundreds of creatives every week All the Young Nudes and creative studio and coworking space Toads Caravan, to name a few), you may not be surprised to know Joanna and her husband Ben are building their very own home in Maryhill (you can follow their Bantaskin Street Barn progress on Instagram).

To help you get to know our July speaker a bit better, we asked Joanna to answer a few CM Glasgow favourites:

1. What does home mean to you?

Home is the most comfortable place, where I can lie around with my dog, daydreaming, playing music, singing Celine Dion far too loudly, cooking or gardening. Home should offer up whatever you need from it. I like to be able to work from home too. I find that to be my most creative and to come up with good ideas for visuals, I need to feel really “at home” and relaxed. Our motto at the coworking space was “Love your work and where you do it”. I always want our coworkers to feel entirely at home, at work, as I know that’s when members are the happiest and can end up staying for many years.

2. What motivates you/what inspires you?

I really love to watch people taking on big challenges. We learn so much from one another. When I see others realise their dreams, it inspires me to do the same, or to aim higher. Whether I succeed or I fail doesn’t matter, but the experiences and journeys are what inform me and give my life it’s texture. I am endlessly inspired by watching people create amazing spaces for themselves. Spaces to work in and spaces to live in. I’ve always been a little obsessed by furniture, art and light and how these things affect the space you occupy and the way you feel inside that space. And ultimately, what you create from that space. Creating “home” has been forever at the core of what I do. From shuffling furniture around my bedroom 3 times a week, to creating a home from home space for people to work from, to designing and building my own home this last year.

3. What is a typical day like for you?

There is no typical! I used to wish this wasn’t the case, but I’ve grown to love the variety and wouldn’t have it any other way. If I’m working with a client on a film, I’m up at 7.30am, out a dog walk with Frank and Madonna, I then cycle or drive along the canal to my studio, then ideally put in a 9-6pm shift at the computer. If I’m working on the house, I usually get up a bit later, make some orders or send some emails, breakfast with Ben, then who knows - It could be tiling, clearing the yard, insulating, cleaning, roofing, fitting windows, designing or sourcing furniture, or dealing with tradespeople and coordinating deliveries. When I’m working on ATYN I get up early and work with the life models, edit the show together for my evening broadcast, try fit in a swim and then from 7-9pm I’m live online with sketchers all over the world! (Oh and I try to squeeze in lunch and dinner!)

4. Tea cake or caramel wafer:

WAFER!

5. Glasgow in one word:

GALLUS

Join us at CreativeMornings Glasgow HOME event will be Friday, August 6th 8:30-10am. Get your free ticket – Everyone is welcome!

We are absolutely chuffed to have Heather as the speaker for our June 25th event (register here). Heather is the Communications Manager of WEvolution a charity established in 2011 to support women to collectively start their own self-sustaining micro-enterprises in small supportive groups (Self-Reliant Groups). That in itself is amazing and we cannot wait to hear more about it. On top of that, she also founded Huddle, “helping you make good stuff happen” with small accountability groups. Last but not least, Heather is the woman behind the Women Who Fail podcast which has some crackin interviews and helps us look at failure as a normal, productive piece of the way we work–a reminder we could all use!

More about WEvolution

WEvolution is a charity established in 2011 to support women to collectively start their own self-sustaining micro-enterprises in small supportive groups (Self-Reliant Groups).

There are now over 150 SRGs in existence and the model was brought over to Scotland from India where there are millions of these (Self-Help) groups in operation.

SRGs are usually women from similar social and economic backgrounds, all voluntarily coming together to save small sums of money on a regular basis and sell products or services to generate income. They pool their resources to become financially stable, taking loans from their collective savings in times of emergency or financial scarcity, important life events or to purchase assets.

Many of us fail to see ourselves as producers and makers but Self-Reliant Groups help people realise their entrepreneurial potential in a sector that is traditionally reserved for the few, and shows us what we can achieve when we work together. They are also a route to a more inclusive society, helping members feel more in control of their lives - financially and emotionally.

The organisation works with partners across the UK and as far as Rotterdam, all working to grow the SRG movement within their communities.

WEVolution

Site: https://srgmovement.com/

Twitter:  @WEvolutionUK

Instagram: @WEvolutionUK

Huddle

Site: https://letshuddle.club/

Instagram: @lets_huddle

Women Who Fail

Instagram: @womenwhofail

Listen: Apple | Soundcloud | Spotify

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Fancy volunteering with CreativeMornings Glasgow yourself? Drop us a line! glasgow at creativemornings.com

#creativemornings

#meetthespeaker

#glasgow

MEET OUR MAY SPEAKER: LISA KENNEDY

What do you do when a global pandemic hits, the country goes into lockdown and work stops? What does resilience mean when everything you do for work and passion project involves being out with people in real life? Meet Lisa Kennedy: performer, choreographer, teacher, podcast host, and connector of people. During the pandemic the prolific interviewer Lisa has pivoted to virtual interviews, honed her editing skills, and released episodes The Braw and the Brave, her podcast about people & their passions, at a dizzying pace. 

Join us for our Friday, May 21st event to hear Lisa talk about her journey. Register free: https://creativemornings.com/talks/resilience-with-lisa-kennedy

Ahead of the event we turned the tables to ask Lisa a few questions of our own:

What does resilient mean to you?

To take life’s knocks and scrapes with the attitude that failures and pitfalls are what make us stronger and that it’s best to look out for that silver lining or a way forward as it’s always there!

What’s one thing that people wouldn’t guess about you?

I’m a big fearty! Rollercoasters, injections and being upside down are not for me…although I’m trying to be less of a wuss! It’s ironic that my podcast is called The Braw and The BRAVE!

Tunnocks Tea Cakes or Caramel Wafers?

Has to be a teacake but I wouldn’t turn down a caramel wafer if you were offering one!

If you could describe Glasgow in one word what would it be?

Belter!

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We love The Braw and the Brave. If you’ve not heard it yet, you can check it out across the socials, or where you get. your favourite podcasts:

Twitter:  @BrawBrave

Instagram: @thebrawandthebravepodcast

Facebook: The Braw and The Brave 

Soundcloud | Spotify

Fancy volunteering with CreativeMornings Glasgow yourself?
Drop us a line! glasgow at creativemornings.com

THANK YOU SOPHIE!

If you’ve been to any of our CreativeMornings Glasgow events over the last four years, chances are you’ve had a chance to meet our lovely chapter-founding host, Sophie Amono. In fact, if you’re like me, you can absolutely hear the sound of Sophie’s infectious laugh in your head when you see this picture!

Well after four years leading the chapter, Sophie is transitioning from lead host to contributing member of the team. We thought it would be a good time ask Sophie a little about what inspired her to start the chapter, what she’s learned along the way, and any advice she’s willing to share. 

What’s special about CM?

For me it’s been all of the fantastic people I’ve been able to meet through something as coming together each month for breakfast and chats. Two of my favourite things in life are good food and good chat, add to this my love for all things creativity and it’s just a special combo that has meant so much to me over the last six years.

What inspired you to start the chapter?

I think it was a feeling of wanting to find my place in a community that I had no part in yet. Moving from the place I’d call home for most of my life, felt daunting and exciting in equal measures. My first experiences of Glasgow’s creative community was a sense of belonging and feeling welcomed – so it made sense to bring Creative Mornings to Glasgow.

What are some of the highlights from your time hosting?
Oh wow, this is a tough one but it has to be the feeling when you see everyone walk through the door in the morning and the smile you get back when the words ‘happy Friday’ are shared. There’s always this sense of will people turn up and I’ve hosted everything from a room of ten to a room of over 50. Over the years we’ve been so lucky to work with some amazing local business, be invited into spaces all over Glasgow and even as far as Paisley, have musicians from South Africa, take place in a sharing meal by Soul Food Sisters, and venture to the Southside, Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow Women’s Library, Whisky Bond, Barras, The Lighthouse, CitizenM, Spaces, and many other amazing community spaces. It will forever be a part of my story of making a new life for myself in Scotland and I’m eternally grateful to every single person I’ve met along the way as Host.

What advice do you want to share?
Keep having fun and remember to be kind! Life can be hard at the best of times and often a little lighthearted fun and kindness can go a long way. Thank you to the wonderful team of volunteers and creatives over the year who have made it all possible.

Fancy volunteering with CreativeMornings Glasgow yourself? 
Drop us a line! glasgow at creativemornings.com

MEET THE SPEAKER: Chaz Bonnar aka ChazB

How is it April already. With normal time constraints being obliterated by Covid-19 we find ourselves in a time most of us have never experienced before. While that’s awesome in some ways (goodbye daily commute) and not so great in others (hello life in isolation) our next event is a little later than usual.

Or maybe it’s right on time. That’s definitely what our next speaker Chaz Bonnar aka ChazB would venture for. Joining us for our first ever online CreativeMornings event, he’ll be taking on the mighty topic of ‘Identity’. In our usual speaker chat we get to know Chaz ahead of him joining us.

1. As a b-boy you must know some pretty cool moves. What inspires you to keep creating new moves?

Breaking is such a creative art form that the possibilities for experimenting with new movements are endless. The breakthroughs you have when putting together complex movements and the pursuit to try new ideas are what keeps me inspired to dance.

2. If you could describe Glasgow in one word what would it be? 

Brilliant.

3. Tunnock Tea Cakes or Caramel Wafers? 

Caramel Wafers.

4. What is your proudest achievement in your career so far? 

Difficult to narrow it down to one defining moment, as I’ve had plenty of defining moments that gives my work purpose and meaning.

5. Which local legend (dead or alive) would you love to have over for breakfast?

Billy Connolly, definitely!

And that’s a wrap for now from us and Chaz. Get to know him better as he joins us on Friday 17th April.

Tickets will be online on Monday but for now get planning what you’ll be enjoying for breakfast. We’re looking at the ultimate brekkie scrabble and a good ol’ slice of cake.

MEET THE SPEAKER: ROSEMARY CUNNINGHAM

As 2020 rockets on, how is it almost March already, we took a little time to invest in getting to know our next speaker a little better.

Rosemary Cunningham, a Glasgow based free-range illustrationist and professional enthusiast. You may know her from her iconic maps and products, as well as the 100 DAYS OF HERSTORY project she created. She’ll be talking about investing in her creative pursuits and what that has meant for her business. As she prepares to take to the stage we sat down for a quick fire round of ‘Meet the Speark’ chat.

1. 2020 is all about creatives achieving their goals. What are some of the creative goals you have set for yourself?

To learn to lead and stain glass. Yup. Not anything to do with illustration per se, but I’ve been meaning to do a workshop for actual years, to learn how to create shape and line in another medium and I think glass is the one. I also hope to complete the two or three projects I’ve said I will! There are two children’s books waiting to be illustrated so I really want to go back to pencil and inks and make those something special. 

2. There’s probably a lot of people wondering like are, but what does a typical day look like for you?

Becoming a parent was a real identity shift, so I definitely have to put that in there as one of my jobs! I’ve never had ‘typical’ days, but an ideal creative day now would probably be a compromise between parenting an energetic and hilarious 14 month old for part of the day and using the rest to create something - for myself or a client - that I can look at by the end of the day and think, “nice, time well spent.” Some sweet additions would be getting a few internet shop orders in (gotta pay them bills) and doing some productive admin. There’d be an obligatory 15 minutes on Instagram somewhere in there too. Some habits die hard. 

3. Tunnocks Tea Cakes or Caramel Wafers?

If you’re offering, I’ll have one and then the other. If you’re twisting my arm, caramel wafers have slightly better structural integrity in a coat pocket context. 4. If you could describe Glasgow in one word what would it be?

Gallus. (bold / cheeky) It feels a bit ‘on the nose’ but it was genuinely the first word that popped into my head. For me, it had to be a Scots word. I also think it covers the way most folk can be, the way the city looks, it captures a sense of humour. 

Join Rosemary at Spaces this coming Friday 28th February and grab your tickets while they’re hot.

Meet the Speaker: Alex Porter-Smith

Welcome to 2020 pals.

Our first CreativeMornings gathering of the year and new decade comes at a time when our creative oars may be feeling a little meh. With Brexit set for the last Friday of January we want to bring a little creative cheer to you all.

Which is why we’ve planned a bumper ‘Roots’ event with the awesome Alex Porter-Smith.

Alex is a co-founder and head of production at High Tide, which is a production co specialising in high end video content for online campaign creation and for events. Some of their clients include Tesco, Crabbie’s Ginger Beer and GDFS. Alex was also a member of the CreativeMornings Edinburgh team from 2017-2019 so she’s super chuffed to be joining us in Glasgow to kick-start her year.  

Meet the Speaker: Veronique AA Lapeyre

We’re two months into our comeback and man it’s been good to be back. Our March event was a nice ease in but we’re ready to keep that momentum going.

As April’s theme of ‘Inclusive’ comes our way we’re super chuffed to welcome Veronique AA Lapeyre as our speaker.

Founder of Zanana Project, a new initiative to amplify and support Creatives of Colour in Scotland. She also has her own multidisciplinary creative practice that explores transculturalism and colour/pattern through drawing, photography, graphic design and other mediums. 

Ahead of our creative morning at CitizenM we sit down and fire five hot questions Veronique’s way.

1. What’s one thing that people wouldn’t guess about you?

My and my whole family, including my wee nephews are into bird watching. I’m pretty psyched there’s a couple of bull finches living in the close behind my flat.

2. When you think of the theme inclusive what’s one thing that jumps to mind?

Just get on with it already. We’ve spent years having the same circular conversations. Now we just need to crack on and do the valuable work.

3. We wanna know a little bit about what you creative day looks like and how do you flex those creative muscles outside work.

I think a good creative day starts with drinking too much coffee (just me?). Then head down, earphones blasting electro music and a great day working at Craft Scotland; where I’m usually working on two to three marketing projects split into decent sized chunks. My creative work here includes a variety of fun tasks like copywriting, graphic design, brainstorming and everything between.

4. Tunnocks Tea Cakes or Caramel Wafers?

Both mate, always!

5. If you could describe Glasgow in one word what would it be?

Vibes.

NIce, real nice.

Grab your tickets to hear from Veronique this Friday 26th April at CitizenM.

Meet the Speaker: Alan Mahon, Founder of Brewgooder

We’re back baby, baby! And what a comeback we’ve got lined up for you. We’ve missed all your lovely faces and we’re surfing into the March theme of ‘Water’ with a speaker whose take on beer combines some pretty good ethics with a desire to change the world one drop of beer at a time.

So strap into your seats as Alan Mahon of Brewgooder sits down in the CreativeMornings hot seat to take us on a ride of all things Brewgooder and Glasgow.

1. Tunnock Tea Cakes or Caramel Wafers

Wafers all the way… could tear through a pack in seconds.

2. What’s your first memory of water?

Quite a scary one… I was in Saint Stephen’s Green Park in Dublin with my Mum and I was feeding the ducks at the pond. My Batman toy feel in the water and I reached out to get it and plonked straight in. Luckily someone was on hand to pull me out… Mum had to get me a new set of clothes. Quite the event.

3. Where do you see Brewgooder in five years?

Hopefully having helped 1 million people get access to clean drinking water, and an internationally loved beer brand to boot.

4. If you could describe Glasgow in one word what would it be?

wet-but-beaut

5. What did you want to be when you were 10? And what would 10 year old Alan think of Brewgooder?

I wanted to play to play for Arsenal. I am sure he would love it… probably wouldn’t be too up on the beer side of things.

Thanks for taking to the hot seat Alan and if this quick fire round has wet your appetite for the Brewgooder story make sure you save the morning of Friday 29th January for our comeback event.

Meet Our March ‘Courage’ Speaker

Ahead of our official hello to spring dance, yep that’s totally a thing, we catch up with our far out speaker for the month. Say hello to local Glasgow girl and all round creative superstar Lynsay Loves as we fire five quick questions her way.

1. What does the word courage mean to you? 

Having enough faith in yourself and your own abilities to live the life you were supposed to live.

 2. Heroes are often depicted as out of this world characters but how does every day life call for courage? 

Pushing ourselves out of that comfort zone and challenging the status quo calls for us to be courageous in our day-to-day. When we have ideas and put them out into the world to live and grow we need to be able to say “yes I can” - that takes courage, conviction and self-belief. 

 3. Any phobias? 

Walking over bridges with water under them - I can’t swim and I do a hilarious power walk if I have to go over the Squinty Bridge in Glasgow!

 4. It’s a toughie but Tunnocks Tea Cakes or Caramel Wafers?

 Tea Cakes - dark chocolate if possible and ALWAYS kept in the fridge :).

 5. If you could sum up Glasgow in one word what would it be? 

 Heart.

Thanks for the awesomeness Lynsay and we here there are a few shiny tickets left for this Friday’s CreativeMornings Glasgow event at The Art School. Grab ‘em while you can and see you there.