I work two jobs to sustain my passion

Alison, 34, tells us why double-hatting as the founder of a multi-disciplinary creative studio and a part-time polytechnic lecturer is worth the hustle.

- Cheryl Chan

I’m a part-time adjunct lecturer who runs a multi-disciplinary design studio specialising in projects that combine art, design and culture. I believe that art should be available to everyone, and this is the reason why I started my creative studio. I wanted to curate interactive art events that are inclusive and fun for everyone to attend.

However, working as a creative in Singapore comes at a cost. I self-funded a project a few years back and blew through all my life savings. This came up to about $15,000-$20,000 over the project’s duration, which ran for several years. While it was a fulfilling project that received a lot of press coverage, it did not make money.

The buzz from the event did help to launch my creative studio, and now I get about three to five major projects a year from various national organisations and cultural establishments. I guess you could say that it was an “investment” for my career. I have no regrets, but I do feel insecure about my finances – when it comes to saving, my peers have a 10-year head start. It’s going to take me a much longer time to achieve milestones, such as buying a home or gaining financial independence.

Singapore is a small market, so the creative industry is extremely competitive. Most of the projects end up going to bigger, more reputable agencies. While I do get projects, it’s not consistent enough for me to sustain a living. It’s why I view my two jobs as a co-dependent ecosystem.

Both my respective roles at the creative studio and polytechnic help develop different parts of my brain and how I process information. I’d bring my knowledge into the classroom and vice versa.