On this episode I’m delighted to welcome someone who sits right at the heart of conversations about how artists survive, work, and thrive in the UK—Julie Lomax, Chief Executive of a-n The Artists Information Company.

With more than 20 years’ director-level experience in arts organisations and national funding bodies, Julie is a dedicated champion of and advocate for artists and their role in the world

With a growing community of over 34,000 artists and arts professionals, a-n (with Julie at the helm) provides support, advice, community and resources for artists in an artworld landscape that can often feel difficult to navigate.

During our conversation Julie reveals even more new resources for a-n members - coming soon! So Whether you're a new arts graduate, emerging, or mid-career artist this is one of those conversations that you’ll be really glad that you listened to.

Big thanks to Julie for your insight, your advocacy, and your time. And to a-n for being outspoken champions of the value of artists to society and for your continuing belief in the way that artists connect us, enrich our lives and create wonder for the world.

And if you're curious to find out more, just head over to a-n.co.uk. If you're not already a member, it's a great time to join and tap into a brilliant range of support, resources, and advice designed to help you thrive.

If you enjoyed this episode please , follow, share, spread the word and look out for more brilliant conversations coming soon. You can find the grateful web on ACAST, spotify, AND apple podcasts, You can also find and follow us on Instagram at - the_grateful_web and at jo_clements

This podcast has been made possible with generous support from GMCA Inspire Fund and by an a-n Artists Bursary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is the brilliant Jenny Steele, an artist whose sculptural practice weaves together heritage techniques and deep emotion. Since 2020, Jenny has retrained extensively in loom weaving, basketry, rush weaving and passementerie, building a tactile, joyful and sensorial language through materials. Her work explores the power of celebration as a rebellious, affirming act, while also holding space for grief which stems from experiencing multiple bereavements from early to teen years

Jenny’s sculptures are made from sustainable, locally sourced materials—from discarded industrial yarns of Northern mills to flora, seaweed and willow—offering a profound connection to place, memory and belonging.

You can find out more about Jenny’s work at https://www.jennysteele.co.uk and on instagram and X @jennycsteele

If you enjoyed this episode please , follow, share, spread the word and look out for more brilliant conversations coming soon. You can find the grateful web on ACAST, spotify, AND apple podcasts, You can also find and follow us on Instagram @the_grateful_web and @jo_clements

So Until next time—keep making, keep thinking, and keep weaving those connections. See you soon!

This podcast has been made possible with generous support from GMCA Inspire Fund and by an a-n Artists Bursary.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I speak with the fascinating scientist and writer Matthew Cobb whose books and research cover a wide range of topics from, in no particular order – how we came to understand the process of reproduction, how maggots smell, to genetics, how the brain works, to the French resistance! We explore the imaginative and collaborative nature of both art and science - discussing Matthew’s current work on a biography of Francis Crick (out in Nov 2025), the challenges of communicating complex scientific ideas, and the role of creativity in both scientific and artistic practice.

We talk about the mysteries of consciousness, the power of metaphor in science, and how storytelling shapes understanding. Matthew reflects on the influences that have shaped his thinking, the importance of generosity in academia, and the shared curiosity that drives both artists and scientists. Matthews enthusiastic, wide range of knowledge and insights celebrate not just what we know, but the beauty of what we don’t yet understand.

Works by Matthew can be found online, in bookshops or your local library.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I talk to the wonderful artist David Gledhill about his work and upcoming exhibition at Rogue Gallery, Manchester. David has exhibited widely both in the UK and internationally, including Frankfurt, Berlin, Milan and Brussels and was recently awarded a PhD from PAHC at the Manchester School of Art.

In addition to his activity as an artist, David has contributed writing and reviews to numerous artist’s projects and publications. He is co-director of Rogue Artists’ Studios CIC in Manchester, the largest artists’ studios in the North of England.

David’s recent work centres on the use of both personal and institutional photographic archives to produce sequences of paintings that address historical and political themes through the lived experience of their subjects. Works by David are in the collections of East Sussex County Council, Rank Xerox, Halliwell's, Touchstones Rochdale, Deutsche Kreditbank AG Berlin, and Steven Berkoff.

Please do go and check out Davids fabulous exhibition titled Parties, - the private view is this Saturday June 14th from 2-5pm at Rogue studios, 2-6 Barrass Street, Openshaw, Manchester M11 1PU and will be open to the public every Friday and Saturday 12-5 pm until July 27th. It really is incredible.

If you enjoyed this episode please , follow, share, spread the word and look out for more brilliant conversations coming soon. You can find the grateful web on ACAST, spotify, AND apple podcasts, You can also find and follow us on Instagram at - the underscore grateful underscore web and at jo underscore clements

This podcast has been made possible with the generous support from GMCA Inspire Fund that has a remit to support the regrowth and strengthening of the creative sector in Greater Manchester and by an a-n Artists Bursary to support artists development in learning new skills, undertaking mentoring or dedicating time to their practice.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weaving Connections with Gaynor Seville

In this episode of The Grateful Web, I sit down with the brilliant Gaynor Seville, Creative Director of The Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery, to explore the role of generosity, collaboration, and the importance of shared knowledge. We reflect on our early careers, how funding landscapes have shifted, and the vital networks that sustain creative practices. Gaynor shares insights from her work in Salford, County Mayo, and now at The Whitaker—an inspiring space that under her directorship has remerged as an exciting contemporary space for the arts in a beautiful rural setting.

Along the way, we discuss the challenges of securing funding in today’s competitive arts world, the importance of supporting emerging artists, the artist Aideen Barry, the current exhibition at The Whitaker by Jamie Holman and, of course, the excitement of her fabulous new pink kitchen!

Tune in for an insightful, warm, and thought-provoking conversation about the unseen threads that connect us as artists, curators, and cultural workers.

Listen now, subscribe, and be part of The Grateful Web

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.