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Research papers
As a well-respected UK organisation representing the practices and concerns of professional artists, we not only undertake our own research on an on-going basis to inform cultural policy and arts planning, but are often called to give evidence to and advice on specific initiatives and campaigns. This section of the site draws together as downloadable pdf files 'hard facts' drawn from our research, evidence provided to inquiries and consultations, and conference presentations on issues around artists and their value and interface with social and economic environments.
Series titles
Artists’ work in 2012
An analysis and commentary on artists’ work and opportunities in 2012.
The lay of the land
Sarah Rowles research looks at approaches to teaching professional practice within fine and applied arts programmes and identifies the role a-n and other professional development organisations can have in supporting student learning in the future.
Artist as leader
As the Clore Leadership Programme's first dedicated 'Artist Fellow', Joshua Sofaer set about exploring what 'Artist as Leader' might mean. Here we share his AHRC-funded research including Sofaer's overview of what it revealed. Already online, interviews with: Cornelia Parker, Field Theory, First Draft, Richard Layzell and Richard Hicks, Kate Love. interviews with Masato Nakamura, and David Wilson will follow soon. Includes sound files hosted on Youtube and Sofaer's written comments and observations alongside.
Reflections on collaboration
Drawing on a-n's Collaborative relationships series along with other key research publications, Chris Fremantle asks "Who is collaborating? Who 'wins' and what do they 'win'?"
Artists Working in Participatory Settings
Towards its contribution to the ArtWorks programme, Navigator (which includes A+, a partnership strategy pooling the best of CPD from a-n The Artists Information Company and Artquest, along with Engage, Foundation for Community Dance, National Association of Writers in Education, and Sound Sense) has developed this bibliography with the intention of identifying and presenting a range of available resources for artists working in participatory settings.
Artists’ work in 2011
This Research paper forms part of a series that looks specifically at the nature and value of openly-advertised work and opportunities for visual and applied artists. Drawing on data published on www.a-n.co.uk/jobs_and_opps, this series set out in 2007 to track on an ongoing basis the key categories of awards/fellowships, academic posts, art vacancies, commissions, exhibitions, residencies and competitions/prizes, and by doing so, to identify any trends arising, and provide commentary and contextual evidence and analysis from other related sources, to contribute to arts and cultural consultations and policy.
Exhibitions are not enough
Reyahn King explores the role of galleries within professional development for visual artists.
Realising the value
Six months on from her ‘Ladders for development' report, Dany Louise interviewed the 'Ladders organisations' again, to find out how they've fared and what their futures hold.
A fair share?
A fair share - direct funding for individual artists from UK arts councils. Is there enough funding going to individual artists and are the application processes user-friendly? We asked Dany Louise to examine the current state of play for grants to individual artists from the UK arts councils - including comparators of volumes of artists applying and success rates - to see whether a 'fair share' has been getting into the hands of artists to develop their practice.
Understanding Turning Point
More information on the history and scope each of the regional Turning Point networks such as objectives, priorities and membership of committees and decision-making groups, and the 2011 stakeholder survey results plus a commentary on the future challenge.
Ladders for development
New evidence exposing, quantifying and discussing the likely impact on the visual arts of Arts Council England's decisions on fifteen previously Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs) visual arts organisations unsuccessful in their NPO application. It shows that a disproportionate number of artists' membership and development agencies and practice-based organisations lost core funding, despite ACE's aim of creating a balanced national portfolio and makes recommendations for sustaining their work as part of a strengthened arts ecology.
Alternative art schools
Pippa Koszerek investigates the recent revival of alternative art schools within the context of contemporary artworld preoccupations and cultural movements. She profiles eight alternative art school projects and invites three opinion articles from Students' Union officer Robyn Minogue, art historian Martin Patrick and artist Terry Smith.
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