Beth Pickens
Beth Pickens is a consultant, and has provided career consultation, grant writing, fundraising, and financial, project, and strategic planning services for artists and arts organizations throughout the U.S. She is the author of Make Your Art No Matter What: Moving Beyond Creative Hurdles and Your Art Will Save Your Life. She created HOMEWORK CLUB, a structured monthly support system for artists. Beth also has a podcast (“because every human is required to”, she quips) called Mind Your Practice.
If you could recommend 3 books to anyone, what would they be?
What are you reading now?
I always read many books at one time, usually 4-6 so here's what's happening now and next: 1. A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib, 2. Black Futures by Jenna Wortham and Kimberly Drew, 3. A Bite-Sized History of France: Gastronomic Tales of Revolution, War, and Enlightenment by Jeni Mitchell and Stephane Henaut, 4. From #Blacklivesmatter to Black Liberation by Keeanga-Yamahtt Taylor, 5. Sarahland by Sam Cohen (just finished), 6. When in French: Love in a Second Language by Lauren Collins (just finished)
ON DECK: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, Likes by Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum, More Was Lost by Eleanor Perényi (I'm a NYRB obsessive).
Whose reading list are you most curious about?
“I want recommendations from: independent booksellers, librarians, books editors, and all my favourite writers And then I'll be anxious about how to finish 6000 books in one lifetime!”
— Beth Pickens