Say hello: Manifold Arts

We’re getting to know Kirk, Emily, and Vicki in today’s Say Hello blog; they co-founded Manifold Arts together in 2020 and are tenants at our Cardiff Containers site.

Ladies, it’s lovely to talk to you. Tell us a bit more about Manifold Arts.

We aim to make arts education more accessible to the people of Cardiff and beyond, through supplying materials for making and a dedicated space away from the distractions of everyday life.

We started in October of 2020. Kirk and Emily (co-founders) felt really disillusioned and depressed after leaving our creative bubbles provided by university, and we knew we weren’t alone when we spoke to Vicki who was feeling the same a year after graduation. We thought we’d try to create a new, more sustainable, creative community.

So, is this your first studio space?

Yes! We’ve been at Meanwhile for around 4 months. It’s been incredible to have a space to call our own, it’s something we have wanted for a while. We had loose ideas of what we wanted to do before and that became much more solid once we acquired the space.

And why did you chose Cardiff?

Cardiff is home to all three of us, and we care greatly about the community here.

We are huge fans of alternative music and the local music scene in Cardiff. We love Team Up at Kongs and Clwb Ifor Bach! We also love the history of the city (and Wales in general). Also if you’re after some incredible vegan-friendly food, Got No Beef and Tiny Rebel are the places to be.

Some great suggestions there! Can you tell us what’s in store for Manifold in 2021?

We’ve got a few ideas in the pipeline but it’s very early days yet. Covid is preventing a lot of the stuff we want to do, but we’re always happy to start a dialogue if you’re after a place to make!

We’re hoping (post-pandemic) to hold networking events with artists and creatives to hang out, brainstorm ideas and make together!

Can you tell us one interesting fact about you or your business?

We chose the name Manifold to represent the variety of things we do and the many media art comes in. We want to support as much art as possible!

That’s a fab idea for a name! What do you think are the best parts of your job?

Getting to create stuff we’re passionate about with like-minded people!

… And the toughest?

That we can’t do it full-time ☹

Looking back at your career, is there any advice you would have given yourself at the beginning?

Start it sooner! And do your research!

Lastly, tell us about some of the other projects you’re involved with.

Emily is a professional artist – she takes commissions and sells original work and prints through Etsy. Contact her via Instagram.

Kirk is offering budget-friendly portraits via her Instagram to help build her portfolio.

Vicki is hoping to start a PhD in literature at the end of this year – she has an academic Twitter. She’s also very interested in historical fashion.

---

More on Manifold Arts

Follow Manifold on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. You can also visit their website here.

Meanwhile Creative

At Meanwhile Creative we take a creative approach to ‘meanwhile’ space. We can find flexible, affordable and practical workspace for your project whether this be office space, studio space or desk space in Cardiff, Bristol or Manchester. We have something for everyone.