Thoughts for October: Kind Support
Tamar Millen and Dermot Daly on the panel of Makers in the Face of Doom (September 2025) Image Credit: Chris Saunders
As we reflect on our September ‘Makers’ Month’ we think about how we can best support the ecology of artists around us going forward.
As artists, a huge amount of our time is spent amassing and giving ‘support in-kind’:
Snatches of peoples’ time
Spaces and equipment that people can lend you to use for free
Basically anything else we can beg, borrow and steal without cash changing hands.
Artists have long been the masters of this cyclical economy of generosity…. but we as artists have also noticed a shift in this system.
In recent times it feels like support in-kind has become another way of reinforcing hierarchy in the creative sector. Those that have, parcelling away and rationing out what they have to give to few rather than many. Packaging up the exercise as philanthropic while artists count these crumbs as more reinforcement of the scarcity we live in.
Kind to some but not to all. In the realms of kind, but not quite kind.
And we want to believe we all deserve more. So we want to offer clearly what more we can do. We want to host a wealth of well-defined, holistic and meaningful support to projects. In response, we are going to rebrand the way we support projects as
“Kind Support”
We hope that this will take a more topographical, less hierarchical, view of the way we can support the amazing artists and wealth of projects around us. Coming back to what we’ve always wanted archipelago to literally mean.
Inspired by our name sake, we see ourselves as part of a much wider, but interconnected ecology; drawing together ideas, stories and individuals that should retain their unique distinctness but not be seen isolated to what and who is around them.
And that’s the way we want to provide support. We can’t do everything for everyone, but we can strive to do lots for lots.
So, using our logo as inspiration, here’s an illustration of some of the ways we can and do use our current resources to support artists; with distinct and deepening layers of support:
In September, we ran our second event for artists in Yorkshire around sharing support, Makers in Collaboration. One of our collaborators, the brilliant `Dan Loops, curated his own brilliant creative response to chats on the day, and we’re now claiming it as our ‘Makers’ anthem, a beacon of our work for artists going forward. Above is the outline of our support, below is how we want it to feel:
If you want to get in touch about accessing this support, just drop either Beth or Seán an email, or introduce yourself to us using our freelancers’ form here.
And if you’re not an artist...
If you’re not an artist, but have experienced archipelago’s work, we have a request for some kind support from you…
We at archipelago are currently in the process of applying to the Arts Council's National Portfolio, a significant multi-year funding opportunity, as well as planning for our next 5 years of work. Central to this process is understanding our impact for the three core groups we hold in equality across our work: artists; audiences; and participants and partners.
If you’ve seen or taken part in some of our work, we’re so keen to hear about what you thought about it. Click here to fill in an anonymous survey about your experiences of archipelago, or if you prefer, you can drop Beth or Seán an email.
Seán Recommends:
A Watch: Let’s face it, 2026 has not been a classic one for most humans… However, what it has brought us is the public blossoming of a shared respect and dialogue between Thom Yorke and Harry Styles, starting with some heartfelt and moving stuff at the Ivors back in May, and continuing with their Rolling Stone Magazine Musicians on Musicians interview which dropped last night! It’s nice, you’re welcome.
A Listen: Another one that’s dropped in the last 24 hours, Andy Bell and Masal’s Common Primitives is a nice vibe. Very chill, with some interesting rhythmic and textural elements. A far cry from the other band Andy Bell is currently playing with…
A Read: Haven’t read this yet, but (and some who know me will know I’m already a big fanboy) I listened to Paul Smith on How to Fail with Elizabeth Day last week and am really looking forward to thumbing through his new book Threads:My Life in Style
An Event: Mike Wozniak’s The Bench tour is one of the best bits of art going. A masterclass in improv and storytelling. Like a dirty/hilarious/silly/surreal Miss Marple mystery. Go, go, go!
Beth recommends:
A Watch: It’s spooky/cosy season, so it’s to the cinema to watch the feature film sequel to the brilliant TV series Ghosts for me!
A Listen: See below, to read, but you can listen too here.
A Read: In a very tough spot recently, Seán - in his forever wisdom - drew me towards Tomorrow’s Going to be a Better Day by Billy Bragg tucked within his book of selected lyrics, A Lover Sings. So as a wee reminder to all:
Don't become demoralised by this chorus of complaint
It's a sure sign that the old world is terminally quaint
And tomorrow's gonna be a better day
An Event: A fair few comedy shout outs, this month, cos my god we need a laugh rn. Forever blessed that she’s my pal and the beacon of excellence for us all, the brilliant Maisie Adam is on tour from now until March next year with her new show Whatsherface. I saw her smash a work-in-progress as part of Rob Rouse’s Comedy Village circuit in the Peaks (which in itself is a glorious thing). This show is a thing of glory - snap up the last crumbs of tickets now!