Holly Black, Managing Editor, Elephant
I'm originally from Brighton and moved to London to study graphic design at London College of Communication before embarking on an ill-fated Master's degree in curating at Chelsea College of Art.
It was so badly run that the entire class collectively sued, and we got some of our money back. What was a failure in terms of education was a master class in collaboration and collective action!
After some odd jobs in the service sector and scattered gigs helping out researchers and archivists, I cut my teeth as an Editorial Assistant for Art Quarterly, the magazine of the Art Fund. I learned about everything from picture rights to press passing, as well as how to craft a good story. Since then, I have written for numerous titles (everything from Wallpaper* to Playboy) and overseen various editorial projects, both online and in print.
Having studied graphic design before moving into journalism, I have a very strong visual understanding of what makes a good magazine, as well as practical experience, which has proved invaluable.
In 2021, I became Managing Editor of Elephant and this year, and I published my first book, Artists on Art, with Laurence King. I also work freelance as the digital editor for The Arts Society and as a journalist.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
Instagram, for its visually led content and very active accounts from artists, galleries and museums all across the world.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
My main gig at present is as Managing Editor at Elephant, where I oversee the print biannually, as well as work on digital content with my colleagues. The editorial team is very small considering the amount of content we create (six people!), which means that my role extends across almost every area: writing, commissioning, interviewing, consulting on shoots and layouts, collaborating with artists and overseeing overall print quality.
Elephant is a contemporary art magazine, but our aim is to be super-accessible and jargon-free. This means having your finger on the pulse of up-and-coming artists, exhibitions, galleries, writers, photographers and online initiatives. Pre-pandemic, this involved a lot of travel, which is finally becoming a reality again.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
It might sound cliché, but my career really is my passion. When I was starting out, I dreamed of being a curator, but I turned to journalism in order to share my love of art and telling artists' stories, which I was lucky enough to turn into a viable job.
After finding out I had a knack for writing, I realised that not many journalists or even editors had my hands-on experience when it came to design and printing. At Elephant and in my freelance work, I am able to work in all of these areas. I absolutely love the problem-solving elements, the collaboration, and bringing people's ideas to life – especially when it comes to giving young creatives new opportunities.
That moment when you see your magazine hot off the press is incredible. And the smell still gets me. There's nothing like a freshly printed magazine!
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Be amenable and meet your deadlines. It doesn't matter if you are an absolute genius. If you make things difficult for the people you work with, they won't commission you again. It is amazing the number of freelance journalists who worry about tweaking their work and forego filing dates or become very defensive about edits!
This valuable advice set me up so well when I first went freelance and landed me lots of repeat work. The same goes when working as an editor. It is all about collaboration and organisation.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
The creatives I speak to on a daily basis. Not only does their work inspire, but the relationships you build when you write about it, as well as giving them a platform, is so galvanising.
I also love working on a print magazine because there is always a definitive deadline, followed by celebrations – what's more motivating than that?
What are you proud of in your life so far?
Writing my first book, Artists on Art, and managing to do a job out of something I love. Also, learning two out of three Japanese alphabet!
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
In-person! I absolutely hate the email grind, and health reasons make video meetings almost impossible. Meeting people in creative spaces such as exhibitions (or even parties!) not only extends your network but brings about new ideas. I'm all about having a quick coffee with a new person, too. It's so much more fruitful than an email exchange.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Definitely, my jack-of-all-trades approach to work. Whereas some people might hone in on a particular specialism, I have always taken the opportunity to learn new skills or broaden my remit. For example, while in my first job, the picture editor left, and I offered to take on the work with no prior knowledge of how to research or licence.
I just asked around and googled! I also jumped at the chance to spend three days in a printing factory in Cornwall to learn how a magazine is put together. It might not have been glamorous, but the experience I gained was invaluable.
As a journalist, you often find yourself needing to digest a lot of information on a particular topic in order to produce a feature. So, these micro-cramming sessions often stay with you and come in handy in the future.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
That it is okay not to have a five-year plan, I have never really known what I wanted to do until I was already doing it. Feeling your way into new roles is just as valuable as having a hard, set goal, yet the default is to be expected to know what you want to do when you're barely out of school!
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
My two former editors, Charlotte Mullins and Claire Wrathall, both showed me what it meant to not only be a good journalist and editor but a good manager. Zoé Whitley, Director of Chisenhale Gallery, is also someone I deeply admire, and I am now lucky to call her a friend. Her creative vision knows no bounds, and neither does her generosity to others. She is also prolific. Every time I see her, she is writing a new book, judging a prize or mentoring artists, all alongside her directorship!
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Learning Japanese (I am still very much a beginner), spending time with my rescue dog, and travelling. If lockdown taught me anything, it's that I love seeing new places and meeting new people.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
For Elephant online, the pandemic actually boosted our numbers, and I found that my freelance work ramped up as more people were demanding more digital content for their platforms. Personally, however, the pandemic was gruelling.
I caught Covid very early and am still suffering from the ramifications of long covid, which has exacerbated my existing chronic health problems. It can be hard dealing with new realities surrounding your health, but I try to stay positive while accepting that I don't have the immense stamina I used to.
To cope, I have very strict rules around screen time and working hours and am transparent about my abilities with colleagues and peers. But, at the end of the day, health comes first, and if I have to rock a walking stick, then so be it.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
My former editor, Claire Wrathall, has been an informal mentor for years. She always has sage advice.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Always follow up on emails within reason! Don't wait for a platform to come to you; make your own via social media.
Always get paid for your work, and don't be afraid to negotiate on fees.
Some things only come with years of experience. Accept that you won't hold the same knowledge as others, and never be embarrassed to say you don't know something.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
That's a hard one, but realistically, it's a lack of financial resources. It is much easier to follow your dream when you have a safety net.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"Ideas are ideas – not art. Art is what you make of the ideas." Artist Ibrahim El-Salahi said this, and I included it in my book. It could apply to any situation. Anyone can have an idea, but it takes a lot of hard work to bring it to life.
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
Queer Circle is a brilliant new charity that works across the arts and social causes. It has lots of accessible resources related to supporting the LGBTQ+ community and is an incredible agent for change. It will soon be opening its brick-and-mortar space in North Greenwich.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Feeling fulfilled is definitely a new marker of success and one that I hold in high regard. If you can enjoy your work and pay the bills, you're winning. I think it's important not to compare yourself to others, particularly through the lens of social media.
It promotes an individualistic attitude towards success and opportunity. Still, I'd argue that nothing is more gratifying than working as part of a team and creating something bigger than yourself.