Artistic Gremlins is a workshop series designed to help artists overcome creative blocks, silence self-doubt, and enhance their creative flow.
“It was a privilege to hear artists from other fields, and artists who I consider to be incredibly successful, speak about their own struggles with gremlins and to recognise that while we all feel these voices are our own they are not as unique as we think”
Ben Duke
Choreographer, Artistic Director and Performer
In 2019, Liam founded the “Artistic Gremlins Workshops”; a series of group and one-to-one sessions that consist of playful creative tasks designed to coax out the inner critical voices that interrupt our creative flow. These sessions address the commonly overlooked topic of an artist’s experience, helping participants to recognise and manage the hindering thoughts that can infiltrate their mind, dubbed “Artistic Gremlins”. The workshops aim to enhance one’s own creative potential, unpack creative blocks and provide a safe and non-judgmental space for reflection.
Alongside the workshops, Liam developed “Artistic Gremlins in Conversation”; a space of honest discussions where established artists discuss their own Artistic Gremlins. These open conversations allow other artists/creatives to draw connections between their experiences and those of highly decorated individuals we consider to be successful.
This array of conversations, with artists who posses accolades ranging from Grammy and Olivier Awards to OBE’s and Damehoods, aim to debunk the myth that self-doubt, artistic hang-ups and creative blocks disappear once a certain success/status is achieved.
Liam strongly believes the process of unearthing and exploring our Artistic Gremlins provides an opportunity to share our vulnerabilities. And through sharing these commonalities we can create a more accepting, supportive and creative community.
To learn more about The Artistic Gremlins Workshops, or to read about the Artistic Gremlins of some of our most celebrated creatives, head to the Artistic Gremlin website.
The Artistic Gremlins Workshop has been delivered to over 400 participants from hobbyists, students to professional artists and Liam is excited for the continual growth of this project.
Partner organisations include: Wayne McGregor’s RESET program, Rambert’s Playground, London Studio Centre, LCDS, NYDC, ZooNation, One Dance UK, Creative Re-work and Dance Lab New York.
“It was emotionally challenging but also made us grow as a company, showing us that everyone has worries and gremlins. Understanding everyone else’s gremlins, even just slightly, will make us have a closer connection as a group and be able to identify when someone might be struggling”
Claudia Evans
London Studio Centre 3rd year and INTOTO company member
“It was a great way to focus in on how we can relate to our artistic practices in a healthier way”
Annie Edwards
Disabled dance artist, Brighton
“It was amazing to get to the root of the fear and negativity which the ‘gremlins’ feed on, and to name these emotions through making a tongue-in-cheek character, which is such a fun activity! … This allowed us to honestly discuss the trials of making art, both in spite of and because of our gremlins, openly and without judgement”
Eloïse Poulton
Theatre and film director
