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Professional practice
Practical guides
How do I set up in business, organise events, make proposals? What are my responsibilities on copyright, insurance and health and safety? What's the best way to price work, approach galleries, get legal advice and collect debts?
Use these guides from artists, curators and arts experts as an introduction to being professional as an artist.
Guides
A guide to Universal Credits
The new Universal Credits will affect millions of people, but it seems more so the self-employed and sole business owners. Not only will they be deemed to earn the minimum income floor meaning they may qualify for less UC compared with existing tax credits, they will also be given the extra administrative burden of monthly cash accounting. This guide by Darren Moynan of Dodd and Co explains the differences. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk April 2013
Agreeing a contract
This guide by Sheena Etches and Nicholas Sharp outlines issues and practicalities to be aware of when negotiating and agreeing a contractual arrangement.
Also see The artist's contracts toolkit » devised by Sharp and Etches.
Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk April 2003
Applying the age discrimination law
Since the new regulations came in, artists and small arts organisations have wanted to know how they will work in practice. Although this guidance from solicitor Nicholas Sharp of Swan Turton is aimed predominantly at organisations, it is relevant for any individual artist who undertakes employed or freelance work. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk March 2007
Approaching galleries
While there are no set rules, this guide by Gavin Wade suggests a number of imaginative strategies for creating gallery interest in your work. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk April 2003
Artist-led activity: a learning resource guide for tutors
Artist-led activity can be radical, edgy, slick, or a bit tatty round the edges, quick to appear and just as quick to disappear. It can go largely unseen, or capture the zeitgeist. Artists have been creating their own arena in which to make and exhibit work for years: from the Salon des Refusés, Paris in the 1860s and 70s to City Racing, London in 1980s and 90s. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk November 2010
Assessing opportunities
A selection of artists and advisers identify the right questions to ask when sussing out the good opportunities from the mediocre and downright mendacious. Compiled by Susan Jones. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk March 2007
Becoming self employed
For many artists and arts organisers self employment is the best option of receiving income, giving freedom to choose work, better work-life balance and tax savings. This guide by Russell Smith explains what you need to know about becoming self employed. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk June 2007, updated November 2012
Budgets
A budget is an essential tool for any artist planning a new project, making a funding application or drawing up a business plan. This guide from the Cultural Enterprise Office in Glasgow offers straightforward advice on how to construct and manage a simple budget. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk April 2003
Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme removal - sole traders
The UK's Cheque Guarantee Card Scheme is due to cease on 30 June 2011. As many artists are self-employed, payment by cheque can form an essential part of the income stream. Jobs and opps online Editor Lauren Healey contacted UK Payments, the organisation responsible for administering information on making all forms of payment in the UK. The document they emailed back - presented here as a Practical guide - outlines the reasons behind the decision to withdraw cheques and suggests some alternatives. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk May 2011
Commission agreements
This checklist by Sheena Etches and Nicholas Sharp covers many issues relevant to small-scale private and public art commissions, with questions to consider and further explanation of issues arising in the notes. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk April 2003
Community Interest Companies (CICs)
This guide by Nicholas Sharp introduces Community Interest Companies (CIC), a new species of limited company created in 2005. Aimed principally at social enterprises the CIC may well prove popular over time in the arts and charity sectors. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk September 2006
Creative Connections: A guide to creative collaboration for artists working with young people
This guide takes artists through the different stages of finding and creating opportunities to work with young people in a range of settings. It asks: How are artists recruited? What is the best practice? What do young people want from such collaboration? What do artists need from teachers? Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk May 2010
Critical Mass
Rosemary Shirley reveals how www.a-n.co.uk/interface can be integrated into teaching and used effectively by students on practice-based visual arts courses, art history and curating courses. This guide is punctuated by a series of four exercises that that can be integrated into a variety of student learning activities. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk June 2010
Degrees of success: a guide for students
Richard Taylor looks at how Degrees unedited can be used as a platform that works to develop your professional skills: getting you the results you need whilst constructing an online edge to you practice. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk April 2010
Degrees of success: a guide for tutors
This guide by Jane Watt outlines the ways in which you can make the most of Degrees unedited as a learning resource. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk March 2010
Distributing video online
Video artist Anton Hecht - whose Youtube channel has over a million views - shares strategies on how to get views and feedback for video work published online. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk May 2013
Establishing a studio group
This guide by Jonathan Waring covers the process of establishing a studio group: from having the initial idea, bringing together a likeminded group of artists and getting hold of a space, to running the studios effectively on a day-to-day basis. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk June 2007
Exporting
It takes considerable time and energy to sustain an overseas market. This guide by Anamaria Wills introduces key export principles and support structures and will help to establish whether you are ready to explore the potential of selling your work abroad. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk April 2003
Gallery, dealer and agent agreements
The following checklist by Sheena Etches and Nicholas Sharp covers many of the issues that arise when artists enter an arrangement with a private gallery, dealer or agent. Read on…
Guide, a-n.co.uk April 2003
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