PR4P: What does Via Seattle want to accomplish during the next three years?
GC: We’re hoping, within the next two years, to open a creative, collaborative workplace for women creative to utilize. That’s really where most of our energy will be going.
PR4P: How can creative women help each other to succeed?
GC: Creative women can help each other succeed in a variety of ways—like providing feedback. If you like someone’s stuff or you think they’re doing something well, let them know. If you have constructive criticism, that’s coming from a sincere desire to make someone’s work or their creative process better, respectfully offer it. Collaboration is great, too! Working together, sharing each other’s platforms, and constantly offering positive reinforcement builds bonds and helps alleviate the toxic competitiveness that we often see among artists.
PR4P: What advice do you offer to women artists and creative who are just starting up?
GC: Work on what you’re passionate about, every day. This was a sentiment that was echoed by a lot of the women, on our panel. Even if it’s only for half an hour. Many times for creatives, the work that we’re passionate about isn’t what we’re doing full-time and we don’t answer to anyone. Which, without deadlines and an authority figure holding you accountable, means we’re at the mercy of our own motivation, work ethic, and time management. So, you have to make doing what you love every day a habit.
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