The Toolkit – Building a Practice That Lasts

Most of us begin with the making.
The materials, the ideas, the need to create something that feels alive. But over time, the weight of keeping it all going can start to pull at the edges of our work. The admin, the funding, the visibility, the structure – the quiet, unseen parts that determine whether our practice can grow, or quietly stall.

The Toolkit grew from this realisation: that sustaining a creative life requires as much care and attention as the art itself. It’s not just about surviving as an artist – it’s about building systems and ways of working that protect and nourish the act of making.

Why This Work Matters

I’ve met so many artists at different stages of their careers who share the same questions:
How do I stay organised without losing the spark?
How do I share my work without feeling exposed?
How do I plan ahead when my income is unpredictable?
How do I keep momentum when everything feels like too much?
How do I prioritise my time?
How do I structure my work when there is so much to do?

These are not business questions. They’re creative ones.
They ask how we balance structure with intuition, how we protect our energy, and how we build practices that are strong enough to flow with the energy of our individual lives.

The Toolkit is a space for this kind of work – practical, grounded, and real.

THIS IS FOR YOU, IF…

• You’re an early-career artist who needs structure and direction
  You’re making work but unsure how to build a sustainable practice. You want tools, strategy, and clarity without the overwhelm.

• You’re a mid-career artist looking to grow
  You’ve got momentum but need support to scale, whether that’s funding, visibility, partnerships, or refining your systems.

• You’re at a junction, restart, or burnout point
  You’ve hit pause, feel stuck, or want to shift direction. You’re ready for perspective, practical support, and a plan that meets you where you are.

• You’re a freelancer balancing art, admin, and income
  You’re stretched thin and need smarter workflows. You want to protect your practice, stay visible, and manage the behind-the-scenes without burning out.

• You’re developing a project but it has hit a wall
  You’ve been plugging away at your project/exhibition/body of work/practice and you’ve run out of momentum, funding or inspiration and need a new strategy.

It’s not about chasing productivity – it’s about making your practice livable.

What We Explore

In each conversation, we look at the real shape of your practice – how it moves, where it gets stuck, and what supports it. We explore ways to make the invisible parts visible: how your time is spent, how your work is seen, and how your systems hold up under pressure.

Topics often include:

• Organising your materials, images, and ideas so they work with you.

• Understanding how accountability, resilience and peer support strengthens your practice.

• Finding authentic ways to share your work and build visibility.

• Mapping financial rhythms that make sense for a creative life.

• Writing about your work with clarity and purpose.

• Developing sustainable timelines for projects, funding, and rest.

• Practical guides to working with technology, accounting systems, and

This process is not about perfection or endless optimisation – it’s about alignment. About creating conditions where your practice can thrive long-term.

Why I Do This Work

My own path as an artist has moved between painting, performance, large-scale outdoor projects, and collaborative initiatives. Along the way, I’ve learned how to navigate funding structures, creative partnerships, and the invisible labour of keeping a practice afloat.

That mix of creative and logistical experience has become the foundation for how I mentor and teach – helping artists find clarity and momentum without losing the heart of their work.

I care deeply about helping others create practices that are both sustainable and meaningful – ones that honour the cycles of creativity, rest, and renewal.

If you’re seeking direction, structure, or simply space to reflect on where you are and where you’re going, The Toolkit is where that process begins.

It’s not a quick fix. It’s a conversation – one that leads toward clarity, confidence, and the slow, steady building of a creative life that lasts.

If you’d like to explore this work with me through The Toolkit or 1:1 Mentoring, you can learn more here”) so it links smoothly to your offers page without sounding promotional?

What others are saying?

“I have been receiving emails and comments from artists who may have done individual workshops on funding and project management previously but feel that following an entire process with Kari has been most useful when piecing all the information together.”
Mayo Arts Office - CPD Programmer

“I had the opportunity to really spend time reviewing and workshopping with the other attendees what I wanted to apply for. In that time I was able to take on the "big project" in my head that was scaring me and allowed me to break it into smaller pieces so I could get my head around it. This is the project I have now fully committed to and fleshed out and whatever funding streams I am successful with I have now formed a network and team that are excited by this developed idea which has already lead to positive outcomes"
Tom - Artist

“Funding applications are frustrating, in part because they seem to require so much certainty in advance. I was looking for a boost in conceiving of bolder project ideas and help/inspiration in applying for funding. Over the weeks, I have redirected my energy to a project that has been on the back burner for 15+ years and I have emerged from these sessions feeling energised about going for it--thanks for all your efforts, expertise and enthusiasm!”
Fiona - Writer & Musician

“I feel more confident just speaking about my ideas now and it really helped having such a supportive group and great leader. I really enjoyed hearing about what others were doing which I also found inspiring. The course helped me to focus my ideas and I hope to use the template again and again.”
Anon - Musician & music Therapist

“Yes. I feel I now have the building blocks and scaffolding to think/act more productively. Keep it all bite sized and build from there. You gave great organisational tips, which make the mountain of a project seem so less daunting, messy and impossible.”
Christine - Artist