As part of the recent Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Cultureshock commissioned contemporary visual artists to record, document and interpret this major event. As a result, the Singh Twins created a single narrative painting encompassing themes relating to the games, to […]
Within UK universities, visual artists are working across university departments in many different ways ranging from arts and health initiatives, residencies and cultural heritage projects to commissions, teaching and PhD research. Artist Steve Pool identifies some key ways artists are working within HE and considers the value of such relationships to both artists and institutions.
A practical guide for artists on different payment options, sending invoices, chasing payments and dealing with debtors.
Artists and advisers identify key questions to ask to help sift the good opportunities from the mediocre, and the downright mendacious.
Hannah Pierce, who has held curatorial and programming roles with organisations including The National Trust and Jerwood Visual Arts, offers advice and explores the key issues to consider when applying for a residency with non-arts organisations.
Juan Bolivar, an artist and curator, explores the history and practice of curating, and provides ten key questions for independent curators and artists to help guide you in developing your first exhibitions. Bolivar’s painting practice runs parallel to his curating practice; first initiating TRAILER (2001-05) – an artist collective utilising temporary locations to stage exhibitions – and since, going on to curate over 40 exhibitions as an independent curator.
Hen Norton explores the use of fundraising platforms online and offers her top ten tips to help you build a sustainable creative business or project, and reach a wider and more engaged network of supporters through crowdfunding.
Hannah Pierce, a-n’s former External Programmes and Partnerships Manager, offers advice on writing applications for a-n’s member opportunities.
Dr Edwina fitzPatrick, course leader of the MFA Fine Art course at Wimbledon College of Arts, offers advice and explores the key issues to consider when selecting and applying to a postgraduate course.
Treeline is a Birmingham-based artist-led investigation into how artists can influence our relationship with nature. In 2017, members of Vivid Projects’ Black Hole Club visited Norway and Spain to research and develop an international network of artists, sustainability practitioners and academics for Treeline. Lydia Ashman speaks to Jaime Jackson, one of Treeline’s founders, about why artists are best placed to facilitate positive change.
In 2017, Wysing Arts Centre restructured its residency programme to be more responsive to artists’ situations and to support a more diverse pool of practices. Drawing on a conversation that took place between Wysing’s director Donna Lynas and resident artist Tessa Norton at the ‘Pivotal Moments’ conference, Lydia Ashman explores how and why the programme has changed.
The Coventry Biennial of Contemporary Art is an artist-led platform that aims to bring critically engaged, high quality contemporary visual art to the city and surrounding area. This profile includes two videos, recorded at Assembly Birmingham, in which founder and artistic director Ryan Hughes introduces the organisation and describes its ambitious journey.
S1 Artspace in Sheffield is a member-led studio provider and exhibition space, running since 1995. This profile includes a video, recorded at Assembly Salford, of S1’s Stephen Escritt outlining the organisation’s plans for a major expansion at the Grade II* listed brutalist Park Hill estate.
ecologies of care was initiated by artist Ria Hartley in 2018. The project comprises a growing toolkit of resources designed to support artists who have access requirements to express their needs. Hartley speaks to Lydia Ashman about the toolkit and why artists’ health and wellbeing should be a sector-wide priority. This resource is available in text format and also as a video format sound recording.
Analysis of data drawn from a-n’s Jobs and opps site over the calendar year of 2016 along with commentary on the current conditions for artists’ practice in the UK.
Founded by a group of artists in south west London as a studio space in 1994, Studio Voltaire currently operates under a multiplicity of different guises. Art researchers Doggerland reflect on the organisation’s hybrid structure, and speak to its head of development and communications Niamh Conneely about the many different modes Studio Voltaire employs to support artists’ careers.
Based in Birmingham’s growing cultural quarter Digbeth, Recent Activity seeks to contribute to the area’s artist-led scene without replicating the activity of its more established spaces. Art researchers Doggerland speak to one of the organisation’s founders Andrew Gillespie about working within manageable parameters to offer “something a bit different” to the area.
Artist Paul Evans discusses how his work became aligned to the research undertaken within universities and how his socially engaged practice has enabled academics and the public to better understand the nature of university research. Based on an interview by artist Steve Pool.
If you are an artist or arts organisers who earns income from a variety of sources, self-employment is usually a good option as it enables you to work for many different people and perform more than one type of work. This guide by financial services experts Counterculture explains what self-employment means, how to register as self-employed, and how and when you will need to pay tax.
Getting paid a fair fee is not suggestive of a revolution. So why does it sometimes incur resistance, both from those who pay and from ourselves? This guide by Rod McIntosh introduces ideas towards getting paid what you want and indeed deserve.
In an ideal world you would only embark on projects where there is sufficient funds available. This guide by Rod McIntosh outlines an approach to finding workable compromises whilst maintaining quality for times when money is tight.
This guide by Sheena Etches and Nicholas Sharp outlines issues and practicalities to be aware of when negotiating and agreeing a contractual arrangement.
Artists, gallerists and curators offer tips and guidance on how to price work when exhibiting in group shows, selling at open studios, or applying for open competitions.
A contract is an agreement between two or more people that is legally binding. It can be verbal or written. This guide by Sheena Etches and Nicholas Sharp outlines the essential ingredients of a contract, offer and acceptance, and implied terms.
This guide by Sheena Etches and Nicholas Sharp looks at how to handle contractual disputes, and how to terminate or re-negotiate contracts.
Read guides and profiles that offer valuable information, insights and strategies on art practice from a range of expert voices. Plus extensive archive of past publications.
Use 'Explore', filters and tags to browse and find content.
Popular searches include:
Fees and payments,
Studios
,
Self-employment,
Residencies,
Prizes and awards, Artist-led,
Commissions, Good practice, Curatorial practice.
