Tahney
Hey! I'm Tahney Fosdike – a writer and communications professional working with artists, galleries, festivals etc.
About me
I'm an Australian writer from the deserts surrounding the Murray River near Pomberuk (lands of the Ngarrindjeri people), now living in a tiny, art-filled Paris apartment with my bunny, Enzo.
I hold a First Class Master of Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne, along with other arts and marketing degrees from the University of Adelaide and Swinburne University.
I began my art career in curating, programming, and communication roles at Naarm/Melbourne organisations including Arts Project Australia, The Environmental Film Festival and the Melbourne Holocaust Museum.
Drawing from over a decade of experience, I founded Compass North, a boutique communication agency for the arts industry.
Here, I'm working with artists and art organisations on a global scale as a writer, editor and communications consultant. Amongst my clients, I have ongoing positions as Communications Manager at WAMA and Art Editor at The Suburban Review. I'm passionate about arts literacy and education and, as part of my agency, produce an arts reading list newsletter called sticky teeth and also facilitate artist writing masterclasses.
I have also written for dozens of publications worldwide, mostly focussing on art and its overlaps with class, feminism and the environment. And, when not writing, I can be spotted in cafes, galleries, long-distance trains and art fairs across Europe – though I'm currently back in Australia until May 2025.
My inbox is always open to hear from editors, artists, creative organisations and others: hello@tahney.com.
Published by
ArtExplored, Archer Magazine, Art Almanac, Artling, Arts Review Australia, Artshub, Australian Book Review, Beat Magazine, Betches, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Jewish Telegraph Agency, Little White Lies, Mamamia, Metro Magazine, Peril Magazine, Plinth, Thailand Tatler and Zee Feed, among others.
Worked with
ArtEx, Radio France Internationale, Illuminate Adelaide, Arts Project Australia, Gorman, History Trust of South Australia, Chandralaya School of Dance, ANZAAB Melbourne Rare Book Fair, the Wandering Room, Melbourne Holocaust Museum,
Leonard Joel Auctions, Melbourne Art Fair, 45 DownStairs, Spring1883, the Environmental Film Festival Australia & Art Aviso.
Education
Master in Arts Curatorship
University of Melbourne, First Class Honours
Diploma of Marketing
Swinburne University of Technology
Bachelors of Arts (history & anthropology)
The University of Adelaide & the University of Bristol
“I write entirely to find out what I'm thinking, what I'm looking at, what I see, and what it means." - Joan Didion
Have you ever worked with an arts writer?
There’s so much writing involved in creative careers. But, a lot of the time, artists and small gallery teams lack the resources to give texts the attention they need.
That’s why I’m here: as an art writer, I support you with the focus, expertise and strategy required to further the impact of your creative work. From social media to grant applications to catalogue essays, I’ll collaborate with you by preparing or giving advice on key texts and marketing and communication material. This means that you can return to the core part of your practice – whether that’s creating art or supporting the people who do – while feeling assured that your texts represent who you are.
Creative practitioners – artists, writers, musicians, dancers, photographers. designers
Organisations – museums, galleries, festivals, foundations
Agencies/studios – fashion, cosmetics, tech, luxury etc.
Media/publishing – magazines, editors, newsgroups, publishing houses
I’m here at any point that you need me, whether that’s executing a year-long marketing strategy or writing one grant application. It doesn’t stop and start with writing, either: I also bring in my network of designers, photographers, developers and artists to create beautiful, well-rounded collateral.
Here’s some examples of what you can ask me to help you with:
- Artist statements & bios
- Grant applications
- Gallery and artist websites
- Exhibition catalogues and programs
- Press releases
- Email marketing
- Social media
- Wikipedia pages
- Proofreading, audits and feedback
No matter the plan for our collaboration, partnering with an arts writer will benefit you and your work by:
- Creating content that speaks to your audience (e.g., gallery visitors, collectors, curators)
- Elevating your profile by authentically expressing an artistic practice or organisation vision
- Fostering sustainable creative projects with industry-ready texts, such as grant applications
- Reducing stress by offloading time-consuming communications and marketing tasks
hello@tahney.com
drop a line.
testimonials
Tahney is an extremely talented writer. Her interview process was fun, inspiring and she was genuinely committed to understanding and honouring my artwork. The result was an absolutely stunning artistic response. I look forward to working with Tahney again.
It’s been a pleasure to have [worked with] Tahney on a podcast episode. She is very knowledgeable about contemporary art and cares about people’s practices. She is professional and highly organised and her research into my practice was insightful and considerate.
I truly recommend working with Tahney. She has worked very deeply to understand and capture in words the essence of my work [in an artist statement]. Without a doubt, the process of working with her has helped me gain a clearer vision of how to present my work.
I never could have written with such objectivity about myself.
It's an absolute pleasure working with Tahney as a social media producer. As someone who has always wanted to work with a content specialist in the arts arena, Tahney has been a godsend. She's very professional and knows exactly how to approach the artistic world and cater to the audience. Tahney's attention to detail and delivery skills on the scope of work is commendable and I look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.
Tahney is definitely a word artist, a truly empathic and committed professional. Based on my idea and brief she moulded a beautiful description for my artwork to apply for multiple festivals. Highly recommended!!
Tahney has been working with myself and Neighbourhood Media on an ongoing basis. She is an extremely talented writer, and works very efficiently, often making herself available to help me create journalism content on very tight deadlines. I would recommend Tahney for a huge scope of work.
I just read your article again as I uploaded it, and have such a warm smile on my face. It's just masterful and I really mean that.
I am pleased and impressed by the beauty of Tahney’s writing style. The documents she worked on with me in the lead up to my EP release are incredible! I am very happy with the elements that she chose to include as well as with the way she chose to write about them. I love the rhythm and flow of the texts also: the narrative and dynamics within were stunning, and the way she crafted sentences really impressive. I feel lucky to have worked together!
We worked with Tahney on an blog post and press release ahead of the release of our tote bag rooted in the history and culture of Paris. She really hit the nail on the head, the tone and content were captivating. We are thrilled with the magic she brings to her work.
portfolios
pricing
“Writing is like sex. First you do it for love, then you do it for your friends, and then you do it for money." -Virginia Woolf
My fee is based on your project's scope, complexity and frequency with a fair adjustment for the creative industry.
Let me know your budget, if you have one in mind. If not, that's fine. Either way, we'll chat to define your project and needs to finalise a quote.
If it’s your first time engaging an arts writer or freelancer, let me know, so I can walk you through the process.
subscribe to sticky teeth for arts reading lists.
Let's stay in touch (intellectually).
some recent writing
selection of articles, interviews, blogs et al.
October 30, 2024
For years, Vipoo Srivilasa has created blue and white ceramics, only to veer away from the palette during lockdown. Now, for an exhibition at Bunjil Place Gallery titled Generation Clay: Reimagining Asian Heritage, he embraces the aesthetic once again, with other artists in tow.
October 30, 2024
Reflecting on Art Basel Paris and Paris Art Week (16th–20th October), I’ve been returning to the idea of set and setting. It’s a term used for psychedelic drug use – set being one’s mindset and setting being the physical environment – but fitting for perceiving art, too. If set and setting are off, the experience can be jarring; if right, it’s conducive to an enriching encounter.
October 30, 2024
For some reason, Art-o-Rama – an art fair in the southern French city of Marseille – has three Google reviews, including a one-star labelling it for “pseudo fashion intellectuals” and those “armed with easy money”.
October 30, 2024
A recent trip down to Marseille to lap up the last few days of summer.
October 30, 2024
The waterside street library where books and community go hand-in-hand – the Thames Street library . While Balmain Library is closed for renovations this winter, where do you go for a book fix?
October 30, 2024
. . . The Music Careers Expo, organised by youth music nonprofit The Push, is back this August to once again demystify pathways into the South Australian music sector.
October 30, 2024
. . . In Melbourne, we’re blessed with frequent visits from international music icons. But, it’s not always good tunes and good vibes.
October 30, 2024
I struggle with vlogs about time passed at home. They feel kinda damp and scattered, I feel ugly, I archive them later. This took me so long to edit. But I got there. What I love most about vlogging is carving new relationships with memories and the act of visually reflecting –something, as a writer/communicator, I often don’t get to do – and finding so much more deep appreciation for my life.