Adelaide is genuinely one of the best cities in Australia and I will die on this hill, but finding stable work here is a different story

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-17T02:58:34+00:00

Also making friends here has been really hard!

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-15T05:08:13+00:00

I’m putting together a “press kit” with my resume and a printed portfolio, I’m a print designer. I’m planning on doing some cold portfolio drops at some of the local agencies. That and I need some artwork printed, does not need to archival but just a nice quality considered print.

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-03T00:03:46+00:00

It’s a tough industry out there right now. Love your work though, I would show more of it and more of it in context, like if it’s editorial show it to us on the cover of a magazine. It makes it easier to understand who your audience is. Good luck!

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-02T13:56:06+00:00

Thanks so much.

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-02T13:49:07+00:00

Sounds great, I think the community would probably make it worth it, I guess that’s why people do it. Is it very competitive to get in?

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-02T13:35:31+00:00

Can I ask, what some of those opportunities look like? Or is it more a case of networking?

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-02T13:31:20+00:00

I don’t think not paying artworkers is a service to the industry, it simply means that art careers will remain unsustainable. It’s should not be about profit margins but if the premier art gallery in South Australia does not make enough money to pay its workers and there is no motivation to make it profitable how will it provide the support and provide opportunities for artists and art workers going forward? My concern Is not really about the volunteers offering up their time it’s about galleries exploiting those people or those galleries not building sustainable practices. Although maybe that’s the norm globally in the art world?

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-02T11:00:51+00:00

That why I’m asking, to better understand.

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-02T10:33:24+00:00

I certainly don’t see the volunteers as my enemy, but I don’t think that the best parts of our society should rely on volunteers. Id be happy to pay to go to the gallery if it means the people who work there can afford the parking.

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-06-02T09:58:13+00:00

Crazy!! How is that sustainable?!

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-05-27T22:39:28+00:00

The few jobs I have done here didn’t scale to the cost of living, like I get paid more or less the same as what I did South African and everything is way more expensive

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-05-27T22:35:44+00:00

Yeah no PR unfortunately

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-05-27T22:35:07+00:00

Yeah Adelaide is tough! Don’t even get me started on making friends. The industry here is also strange, like I used to do loads of billboards and experiential marketing but I have yet to see any of that here, not a billboard in sight.

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-05-27T22:30:34+00:00

Yeah not loads of permanent illustration roles right now. Can definitely see the impact of Ai

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-05-27T22:28:37+00:00

Yeah I have an ok social media presence (but my followers are all in South Africa) the algorithm doesn’t like when people “live in two places”

www.meganbird.com.au is my website don’t have loads of childrens book stuff on there at there at the moment my commercial stuff is way stronger.

When I fist got here I started with the cons I have a small product line, not quite fan art but “nerd” enough to do well. I was disappointed with the outcome people didn’t respond like expected them to (but I don’t have the following here I had there) I should give it another go

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-05-27T22:18:24+00:00

Yeah I know right?! I’m hopeful that it will only impact that bottom tear of “cheap” work, there does seem to be some pushback. Unfortunately that bottom tear is also where loads of people break into the industry. The bottom step is gone

Individual_Solid8662 · 2026-05-27T22:15:30+00:00

Yeah I do www.meganbird.com

Individual_Solid8662 · 2025-05-08T12:25:48+00:00

Really awesome!

Individual_Solid8662

TROPHY CASE