Tamara Bell: Editor-in-Chief

Describe your current role and what attracted you to it.

I am the Editor-in-Chief of the Art & Culture, Luxury Art Magazine, and I run and oversee all editorial operations at Art Space. Art Space is a collective of art galleries which host art fairs internationally to showcase the portfolios of both emerging and renowned contemporary artists. My role involves the creation of our quarterly magazine, which explores a vast array of themes and topics within Art History and also brings to light the work of our artists. Aside from writing a large amount of the content myself, I onboard experienced writers, curate every page, work on rebranding alongside our design team, network with iconic figures in the art world to advertise exhibitions, conduct feature interviews, and source luxury advertising.

What’s your favourite part of the role?

The journalistic side of things. I have had the remarkable opportunity to network and liaise with some amazing figures in the art world and have interviewed some of my favourite artists and icons, which is a dream come true and an unforgettable experience. I have had the privilege to conduct interviews with Emma Watson’s brother Alex, Chris Levine, Michael Craig-Martin, Christian Hook, Hayden Kays, Bonnie Wright, and Evanna Lynch (Harry Potter’s Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood), The Chapman Brothers, and also feature an interview with Tracey Emin about her first solo exhibition in Italy.

What are the key skills you learnt at Warwick that have helped you with your career to date?

My experience giving presentations has definitely helped. I remember being so nervous to give talks in front of so many people at the National Gallery, and my public speaking skills have certainly helped me conduct interviews and ask the right questions. Learning more about Art History generally has also given me the tools to write content for the magazine and pitch content to my writers in a critical and analytical way. Ensuring content is enticing and delves into various aspects of Art History is paramount in my career.

Did you have a specific career path in mind when you chose to study at Warwick?

It was always my dream to work for a gallery or an auction house, particularly the Moco Museum and Christie’s or Sotheby’s. I moved away from the UK and was therefore unable to explore these career paths, but my life has taken me to various unforgettable professional endeavours that have truly shaped who I am today both personally and professionally. While I didn’t explore the above initially, I now collaborate with both the Moco Museum and Christie’s. I even interviewed the Director of Christie’s in the magazine.

What top tips do you have for Warwick graduates who would like to work in your sector?

Finding work in the cultural sector definitely comes with challenges. I initially explored other career paths – like Public Relations and Education – until I found myself working in the exact field of my dreams and sometimes even traveling around the world to our international art fairs. I’d advise to never settle for a job that doesn’t truly satisfy you, even if it takes a while to get there or find the right thing, keep trying and stay motivated!

What does a typical day look like for you?

Every day is different and can bring both challenges as well as major wins. There is never nothing to be done in this role, and I always find myself being extremely busy. Whether it’s overseeing the work being carried out by others, distributing tasks to my editorial assistant, managing magazine distribution, liaising with advertisers, curating content, or having a hand in the design, my days are very administrative in nature. There are days when I get to research and write my content, which are just incredible, as I really get to dive into the subject and continue learning as I go. Some of the best days are when I get a major interview confirmed or receive a surprise text message from someone like Jake Chapman – which always puts a smile on my face!

What has been your greatest career challenge to date and how did your experience and skills help overcome it?

My greatest career challenge has definitely been setting boundaries and managing overwhelm. When you have a position where so many people are relying on you to produce results, and your job also depends on others being able to carry out their duties effectively, this can become very taxing. I think trying to keep a cool mind and remembering that, as good as one can try to be, you’re not superwoman or superman is a very positive way to handle challenges when they arise.

What do you know now that you wish you had known when you were applying for jobs?

Make the most of your free time! When you have a demanding job, the work-life balance can sometimes be a bit off. My job is my hobby, so this is especially difficult, as I’ll find myself on holiday going to galleries and scouting out new artists to get in touch with or research and bring back to the company.