Miles Collyer

Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?

Looking back, I was lucky at the time. None of the other universities which I had applied to had offered me an entrance scholarship. If they had, I would likely have received pressure from my family to confirm an offer of acceptance from another school. Personally, I really wanted to attend OCAD U. I wanted to experience more time downtown, in a neighbourhood that I had previously explored as a teenager, and more importantly, I was eager to be surrounded by other creative people at a specialized university. It was an exciting decision for me and I was proud to become an OCAD U student!

Please briefly describe your current job/practice.

In my role at the Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers, I work to develop and implement programs and services designed to enhance career direction, preparation and success for current OCAD U students and recent graduates. My colleagues and I take on ambitious partnerships and coordinate supportive opportunities for the benefit of emerging artists, designers and creatives.

As a visual artist, I work with images and sculptural materials and often attempt to challenge the traditional boundaries of photographic practice. My work commonly examines socio-political matters and references visual sources located in the media. 
 

How did you get started in your career? 

Looking back, my career actually started while I was still at OCAD U, in my final year. I applied for a job at the artist-run centre Art Metropole and ended up working there for more than 7 years! And I can remember very clearly why I was successful in landing that life-changing role. The job interview went fine, but as I got up to leave, the Director asked what I was carrying with me, rolled up in a large tube in my bag. Since I had travelled downtown for the meeting, I had brought along some large photocopied posters of my artwork and was planning to do some wheat-paste postering around the city. Her inquiry (and my plans) had unwittingly allowed me to wrap up the interview by sharing both my work and my identity as a practicing artist. I think that this left a strong impression and likely differentiated me from many of the other applicants. It was important to the Director that a practicing young artist is in that role at her organization, and I went on to work at Art Metropole for many years. That small decision completely changed my life and formed the basis for my future career! I think it remains an important message to current OCAD U students and emerging creatives; that your identity as an artist or designer has value to it.
 

What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work?

Taking a for-credit placement as a student also immensely impacted the direction of my career, although this time in a very different way. Being placed at a commercial photography studio was an amazing experience, but also showed me the inner workings of a career path that wasn't necessarily a good fit for me personally. This negative impression was an important realization to have experienced, and probably helped me save myself from many years of frustration and disappointment!

Volunteering has also been an immensely significant and meaningful part of my life and career. I have dedicated countless hours as a volunteer, contributing to the work of charitable and non-profit organizations that I believe in. I am very proud of the volunteer work which I have undertaken. It hasn’t always been easy but has always been very rewarding and gratifying, and I hope that I’ll always be in a position to give of myself, as a volunteer, to the causes and organizations that can most benefit from my support.          
 

What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work?

I most enjoy the opportunity to meet and support emerging artists and designers. This is a great privilege; to be in the service of others. Having the chance to witness many young, energetic, creative individuals developing their practices and achieving personal successes in their lives and careers is a powerful and inspiring thing. One thing that most of the OCAD U students and alumni, whom I have worked with, probably don't realize is that I receive just as great a personal boost and uplift in witnessing their growth and success as they receive from the support and service which I strive to provide.

One of the most challenging aspects of our work probably is learning to skillfully and successfully navigate the many different stakeholder groups that we connect with every day and understand their needs and motivations. We serve, collaborate with, and are reliant upon many different entities -- students, faculty, staff, private businesses and other external partner organizations -- we need to understand and connect with each of them to do our job. The complexity of that, along with the empathy and problem-solving required, can be very challenging at times, but also rewarding.
 

What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently?

Now, more than 13 years since my graduation, I remain the closest of friends with a large number of my OCAD U classmates and have gone on to collaborate and work professionally with many. There are also many faculty members, who I once had as instructors, that I now see often and work with regularly. There probably isn’t much that I would have done differently, beyond perhaps forming a broader number of relationships with my OCAD U peers at the time, as well as better appreciating the potential significance of these individuals to my future career.

What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years?

After a few years of often letting this lapse, I need to get back out and support the amazing work of my artist friends and acquaintances. Many of them are so dedicated, achieving so much, and producing truly impressive bodies of work. They deserve more of my time. And it’s also a great pleasure to experience these exhibitions, so a goal of mine will be to make a better effort and I look forward to doing so.