BA (Hons) Illustration for Commercial Application Alumni Maisy Rooney is working on her second edition of Tart Magazine following a successful launch of the project at this years summer show. Her second edition seeks to build the creative community that she established whilst studying at the school. Read on to find out more and about how you can get involved.

Tell us about TART!

I started TART during my illustration studies at the Northern School of Art as a part of my final project. I had always loved and collected fashion magazines, as I was buying more and flipping through one day, I realized they were full of nothing but advertisements, with one or two worthwhile articles. This really bothered me, and I decided to create something different: a magazine where I handled all the writing, photography, and design. TART allowed me to explore various creative forms. After a successful response at the final show, where I made over £400 selling physical copies of the magazine and received an incredible response that exceeded my expectations, I decided to continue with TART.

My goal is to establish it as a digital visual arts media platform for creatives and creators while maintaining its physical publication. TART originally started as a solo project for my final university project, however, one thing I cherished about my time at the the school was the relationships I built with various creatives, something I missed with TART. So, when creating the second edition, I knew I wanted to bring in other creatives to create something amazing. The magazine is available for purchase in both digital and physical formats.

What does TART  stand for?

I sought a name that would reflect the essence of the magazine as a feminist visual arts publication based in the UK, particularly the North East. “TART” appealed to me because, while it’s often a derogatory term for women, I saw it as an opportunity to reclaim and challenge such slut-shaming language in the context of a feminist magazine. Additionally, it conveys a strong British identity and plays with words, evoking both a tasty treat and a gendered insult.

What type of submissions are you looking for how can people get involved?

We’re seeking artists of all kinds—illustrators, photographers, and graphic designers—to join our visual arts magazine. We’re primarily looking for captivating articles that explore various aspects of arts, culture, personal stories, and internet culture. If you’re a visual artist, illustrator, or photographer interested in this project, please contact us via email (tartstudioss@gmail.com) or through our Instagram (@tartmagazine_). We’ll provide you with a mood board, colour scheme, and inspiration for the 2nd Edition of TART Magazine.

You studied illustration at our school, tell us about that experience:

My time at the Northern School of Art was the best decision I ever made. It provided an excellent environment for collaboration with fellow creatives across various courses. Despite being in the illustration program, I had the opportunity to work with students from different disciplines and build lifelong friendships. The tight-knit community at Northern Art allowed me to easily collaborate with groups like Menstrual Rage Theatre Company on TART.

The university’s small size ensured that I got to know everyone and attending university events was a fantastic way to connect and collaborate with other talented creatives. My lecturers were incredibly supportive, especially as I veered away from illustration during the creation of TART. They encouraged my creative freedom and never pushed me in a specific direction. More than anything the course and my time at the Northern School of Art not only gave me the ability to explore all different avenues as a creative rather than just sticking to illustration, it also gave me the confidence to put my work out there and reach out to other creatives and how to think of my work in a professional context.

Keep up to date with Tart magazine by following them on Instagram! If you are interested in studying illustration we have the course for you, find out more here.