AIR

AIR was established in 2007 as a membership body for practising visual and applied artists. Need for such a body amongst artists and research and development of AIR was enabled by a-n The Artists Information Company, drawing on its role as long-standing and well-respected artists’ information and support organisation. a-n provides the secretariat for AIR and its Advisory Group of Artists.

How did AIR come about?
Following surveys and consultation meetings 2005-07 into artists' professional needs and aspirations AIR was established in September 2007 as a membership body for practising visual and applied artists. The investigative process was steered by interested artists and led by artist Paul Scott, also Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of a-n The Artists Information Company. The group also commissioned research into existing and historical provision for visual artists including reference to previous bodies including the National Artists Association (1985-2000) the role of artists' unions in Ireland and Scotland, and analysis of the efficacy of artists', membership bodies in mainland Europe.

A group of interested artists - drawn from across England and Wales - formed the AIR Artists' Advisory Group and established meetings and research structures to inform AIR's future role and functions. AIR's development was enabled by a-n The Artists Information Company, a long-standing and well-respected artists' information and support organisation. a-n made an adjustment to its constitution to enable this artists' membership scheme and the formation of the AIR Artists' Advisory Group and has since provided the secretariat for AIR and Artists Advisory Group, managing the programmes and initiatives as defined by the group.

Between 2007-2009, AIR negotiated and introduced a number of professional benefits for artist members, these in direct response to the priorities identified by AIR's surveys and consultations. These include free £5m Public and Products Liability insurance (UK members), low-cost Artists' Insurance Policy, Open dialogues and AIRTIME networking events open to artists and final-year art students, immediate application to DACS for Payback fees and access to Artelier for international studio exchange. By April 2009 AIR already had 11,600 artist members, making it the largest-ever artists' membership body in the UK.

The AIR benefits are offered in tandem with the a-n Artist subscription package that includes legally-sound Visual Arts Contracts, Code of Practice for the Visual Arts, guidelines on rates of pay for artists and toolkits, the Knowledge Bank of practical resources and discursive articles and the popular Jobs and opportunities online service.

The AIR AAG steers and leads AIR's development, including campaigns, benefits for members and widening the membership base. AIR has attracted a wide range of visual artists - across career stage and art form. They are bound through a common approach to their practice rather than what their practice looks like.

AIR aims to be a 21st century artists' organisation building a wide membership through adopting imaginative and modern methods of communication and consultation. AIR can quickly mobilise artists through e-communications and create effective consultations at short notice.

Development of AIR's representation framework
Although AIR was built from a-n's track-record and the high regard in which it was already held by artists and was initially promoted solely to a-n's artist subscriber base, by 2009 it had gained an independent identity and recognition of its consultation routes.

AIR made an official response to the 2008 McMaster Review, Arts Council England's 2009 consultation on Achieving Great Art for Everyone and has provided briefings and evidential research to the Turning Point visual arts networks in England. AIR has representation in its own right on Visual Arts UK and Creative and Cultural Skills Committee for Visual Arts Blueprint for Workforce Development. AIR contributes briefings and evidence to national and regional Turning Point networks. In October 2009, AIR was invited to become a member of ECA (European Council of Artists).

The impetus for participatory and inclusive framework that enables artists to represent themselves and the concerns and needs of their profession within decision-making came from the AIR membership itself. When surveyed in 2009, 90% of members said they wanted AIR to "lead campaigns for increased representation of artists' concerns to government and policymakers".

The AIR Representation Working Group took up the challenge, consulting with members about the kinds of organisation they related to and their communication preferences. Analysis followed of the effectiveness and communication methods of twenty-four representative organisations, pressure groups and campaigning bodies. These included several European artists' membership bodies or unions, RSA Fellowship Council, Amnesty International and Greenpeace. Discussions were also held with independent electoral service providers.

The result is adoption of a framework designed to achieve both the longevity and viability of AIR as a body that provides both professional benefits for artists and enables very many artists to debate, identify and activate the research and campaigns that will enhance artists' working lives and advance their professional status in society.

AIR's representative structure has been distilled from and will build on best practice from other representative and campaigning bodies, creating interactive, inclusive, open and transparent communications, consultations and debate designed to empower and 'give voice' to members.

AIR's representative structure to be implemented from October 2010 encompasses:

• Elected AIR Council evolving from the existing (steering) AIR Advisory Group.
• Adoption of digital technologies as the primary means of member-to-member communication, for elections, research, pro-active campaigns and for the sharing evidence and knowledge amongst artists.
• Annual open forum to review the changing environment for artists' practice and review AIR's frameworks, achievements and partnerships.
• Ongoing regional activities and debates and support for development of AIR Activists as they emerge from the membership.

AIR is enabled by and enables a-n The Artists Information Company. AIR's role with a-n The Artists Information Company is strengthened as AIR will recommend the artists that sit as full members on a-n's Board whilst a-n's Board will ratify nominations to the AIR Council.

What is AIR's Mission?
AIR's mission is to be the voice of practising visual and applied artists. Through discussion and debate, AIR will identify and explore the issues that impact on artists' practice in order to campaign for artistic, legislative and economic measures to enhance artists' working lives and advance their professional status. AIR seeks to promote the central role of the artist within a diverse and sustainable cultural landscape.

What are AIR's Objectives?

• To enable interaction amongst artists to support representation and advocacy
• To gather intelligence about visual arts practice and artists' careers to influence policy-making
• To provide practical and professional benefits for artists
• To collaborate and cooperate with artists' representative and campaigning groups in the UK and internationally
• To enable students to establish a career as practising visual or applied artists

Who can join AIR?
AIR is open to all practising visual and applied artists. Full Membership includes full voting rights and associated AIR services, public liability insurance and other professional and practical benefits and an a-n Artist subscription. Associate Membership (to be introduced during 2010) is open to students on, or recent graduates from, practice-based visual arts courses in further and higher education. Although Associate membership doesn't confer voting rights or access to AIR's professional services, it provides a-n subscription benefits.

What is a-n The Artists Information Company?
a-n The Artists Information Company was founded in 1980. Through advocacy and information and from the perspective of artists, a-n's mission is to stimulate and support contemporary visual arts practice and affirm the value of artists in society. A not-for-profit company, a-n earns 80% of income from subscriptions and advertising sales augmented by grant aid from Arts Council England and other sources as raised.

In the 1990s, a-n published a series of Artists' Handbooks on practical topics including copyright, fundraising, selling and exhibiting and the legally-sound Visual Arts Contracts. In 2003/4 a-n was commissioned by Arts Council England to research and publish a Code of Practice for the Visual Arts and associated good practice resources including guidelines on rates of pay for artists, available to artists and employers.

Since 2005, digital delivery has been at the core of its operations. Alongside, the Knowledge Bank of practical resources and discursive articles, the Jobs and opportunities online service promotes openly-offered work and professional development opportunities in the UK and beyond. The Professional practice resources and toolkits are widely used as learning resources through licence agreements with universities and colleagues. a-n works in partnership with NALGAO to encourage good working practices between local authority arts officers and artists. a-n is a member of Visual Arts UK, Paradox and Artesnet and programmes collaboratively with Artquest and Axis.

First published: a-n.co.uk April 2009. Updated: July 2010