Face to Face with... Leila Bartlam

Speaking to Leila Bartlam, it’s clear her passion for creativity runs deep. Joining Cut+Run London as MD back in July, she previously held a head of TV role at adam&eveDDB and her summer move is a reflection of the passion she holds for every aspect of the creative process.

Recently Bartlam announced her new creative venture, The Quarterly, an event to be held four times a year at Cut+Run London’s Soho HQ to present some of the brightest creative gems along with talks from top directors and live demos by talented artists, which she has developed with her former agency producer colleague Victoria Keenan.

Here the Bartlam tells us what to expect from tomorrow’s (Tuesday 20 November) first installment, with a talk from shots’ Cannes issue cover star Ringan Ledwidge, a calligrapher who promises to inspire and a theme of cocktails and chips that’s sure to go down well.

Where did the idea to launch such an event come from?

The industry we work in has a lot of unspoken talent. This is an opportunity to showcase it, whether it is artists, photographers, directors or other personal endeavours. It’s hard for agency people to find the time to view work and meet creative talent so we thought we’d facilitate that… and have some fun.

How did you come to team up with Victoria Keenan for the project?

We worked together at adam&eve in the TV department. Victoria has a great eye for new talent and we both enjoy looking.

And who else have you got involved in the event?

The food is being provided by Randall and Aubin, and the cocktail selection comes from the 43 Club. We have invited mostly agency creatives and producers, but also production companies, journalists, contributors and interesting people from the creative industry.

How did you select the artists for the inaugural session?

Victoria and I selected the artists through personal contacts and our own creative judgment. There is a lot of great work being produced and it deserves to be honoured. Whilst it was difficult reducing it down to a palatable number, it was inspiring and enjoyable.

And Ringan Ledwidge is holding a talk; what’s that going to be on?

Ringan will be talking about a piece of work from the past year and his approach to the job.

There’s also talk of a calligrapher; how did that come about and what exactly is he going to be doing?

Sehmi Satwinder is one of the country’s foremost calligraphers. He has held a Guardian masterclass and been on the cover of Design Week.  His work is relevant to advertising because he can create bespoke lettering and painting by hand for clients. Whilst he usually works with pen or pencil he will show us that anything can work - including a sponge! I have known him for years and his unique abilities will really stand out in the context of our private view.

What are you hoping people take away from the first Creative Quarterly?

People should walk away from The Quarterly knowing that they are part of a creative industry that can inspire and fuel us all. Why stop in the workplace? If you have a creative passion, do it. The Quarterly is an opportunity for people to celebrate artists within our industry, whether their achievements are industry-related or personal. 

What can people expect from future installments?

There will be four events a year and we will have a variety of artists involved in every private view. We hope to create a buzz about each private view and maybe expand the offering.