what ever is this?

Dear candidate Thank you for your application for the post of Diversity Team Administrator. I regret that you were not successful on this occasion. There were around 37 applications for this post, many of which were from candidates who specifically demonstrated how they met the essential and desirable shortlist selection criteria for this post. Thank you for your interest in the University of the Arts London, and we hope you will consider a further application at some future date.

batch return

and this is the batch I fired off returning thick and fast

Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your application for the post of Assistant to Research Administrator at London College of Fashion.
I regret that on this occasion you were not successful.
Thank you for your interest in London College of Fashion and University of the Arts London and we hope you may have the opportunity of considering a further application at some future date.
Please note that due to the high volume of applications we are unable to provide feedback at this stage of the recruitment process.
Yours sincerely,
Staffing Team,

another disappointment

I don't even know why I apply for some of these posts; I did this one as part of a batch application as I had an application form ready and completed and fired off a load of similar applications. The truth is I would be appalled to be called to interview.

Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your application for the post of Academic Administrator at London College of Fashion.
I regret that on this occasion you were not successful.
Thank you for your interest in London College of Fashion and University of the Arts London and we hope you may have the opportunity of considering a further application at some future date.
Please note that due to the high volume of applications we are unable to provide feedback at this stage of the recruitment process.
Yours sincerely,
Staffing Team,

another page in the story

Dear Anna-Marya,
Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to submit an application for The Library of Lost Books.
I am very sorry to tell you that you were not selected to take part in the project.
When we began with our small collection of discarded library books we wondered if we would manage to get 30 artists interested in the project. In the end we had over 230 artists wanting a book!
We were incredibly impressed with the quality of work that everyone submitted. If we could have found the space and had the books we would have wanted to offer a book to everyone, so please do not think that not getting selected is in any way a negative criticism of your work.
Keep making wonderful work and enjoying the process,
with best wishes,
Susan (a.k.a The Librarian)

Space2

today I attended a "selection meeting" of artwork for the Space2 empty shop art space in Watford as a steering group member
a thin selection of work and I hope it acquires more than the usual Watford dymanic

no fun to be had

frankly I wasn't expecting a response; no one on my radar that I remembered applying for; too many employers don't respond, or take so long that I've forgotten what I even applied for; they are no great loss


Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in The Fun Fed's Creative Assistant position.
We received an extremely high volume of applications of very good standard for only one position to fill.
Unfortunately, on this occasion you have not been successful, and we are therefore unable to progress your application any further at this stage. Please note that we are unable to give individual feedback on any application.
Let us take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in The Fun Fed and invite you for a free session at a day of your convenience by simply contacting us via email.
We wish you all the very best of luck in your future endeavours.
Kind Regards,
The Fun Fed

better late than never

about a month after the incumbent is already in post!
what does administrative competence mean?
and is it better to fail in the face of vigorous competition or only against a few people? is failure qualitative?

"Many thanks for applying for The Mirror residency at Wysing Arts Centre. We had 271 applications for The Mirror and a total of 617 applications across all twelve residencies. All applications were reviewed in detail by Wysing’s curatorial team which includes three individuals. It was difficult to reach a final decision but on this occasion I am sorry to tell you that you were not selected. Due to the high volume of applications we are not able to offer individual feedback to unselected artists on this occasion. I do hope you will keep in touch with Wysing and consider applying in the future.
In the meantime, we are currently advertising studio opportunities, which includes a Live/Work studio. More info here: http://www.wysingartscentre.org/artists/opportunities.html. Should you be interested in studio rentals then please contact Wysing’s Operations Director, louise Thirlwall, on louise.thirlwall@wysingartscentre.org
Donna Lynas
Director
Wysing Arts Centre"

well, I'll be gosh-darned

Dear Anna Marya,

Thank you for your application for the position of Administrator at Mimbre. Unfortunately you have not been short-listed on this occasion.

Thank you for your time and we wish you every success in your search for an appropriate position.

Regards,
Emma

but I wanted help at failing

Dear Anna-Marya,
Thank you for your recent application to the Making and Funding Work seminar, provided by a-n The Artists Information Company and WeDidThis. I am afraid that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful. The standard of applications were very high as was the level of demand for this seminar against the availability of places, we encourage you to continue to look out for further opportunities to apply to in due course. Whilst we cannot enter into any dialogue with regard to your specific application due to time and financial restrictions please do have a look at our resources on the a-n website as these may help you with future applications.
Support schemes
Fundraising
With best wishes,
Jennie Picken
Communications & Partnerships

no time to fail

I was wondering when I stopped blogging my failures. Clearing out my old e-mails I found the answer (see below. Round about October last year I both ceased blogging and also even considering the condition of failure. My son came home from India with typhoid and its effects and his illness put everything into perspective. The next month my mother-in-law died which also had unplesant ramifications and put thoughts of personal failure out of my head.

"5 October 2011
Dear Anna-Marya,
University of Hertfordshire - AA2A Artists Access to Art Colleges Scheme
My colleagues and I would like to thank you for your time and interest in the project. There has been considerable support and interest in the AA2A scheme resulting in a high demand for the limited number of places available. It is with regret that we are unable to offer you a place on the scheme this year.
If you would like to be considered for a place next year, we can keep your details on file, so we can contact you again next year so you can apply. In that case we would just ask for you keep us updated with your personal information and professional practice. If you could please let us know if you would be interested in this option.
We would also like to point out that there may be opportunity at other establishments such as Digswell Arts Trust who are a local Foundation.
We thank you again for your application and wish you a prosperous future in your artist practice.
Yours sincerely
Nick Thomas
University Coordinator for AA2A scheme"

Wysing subtlest beast of all the field

Wysing Arts, for whose residency, "Cosmos", I exerted myself have with great subtlety announced the four successful artists, without bothering to inform the failures about their lack of success.
They are to be congratulated on this spectacular piece of PR.