Margaret Harrison, winner of the 2013 Northern Art Prize, is the latest high-profile artist to announce their support of a-n/AIR’s Paying Artists campaign.
Following AIR Council fact-finding and sifting of artists’ opinions over recent months, consultants DHA Communications have been commissioned to develop a body of evidence and advocacy tools for a campaign highlighting the need to pay artists for their vital contributions to arts and culture.
AIR Council’s Joseph Young continues research into artists’ pensions.
AIR Council release statement on artists’ pensions.
AIR Council responds to detainment of Ai Weiwei by Chinese authorities.
Home Secretary announces end to use of stop-and-search powers against individuals.
In November, the Federation of International Musicians and International Federation of Actors launched their Manifesto on the Status of the Artist as a major step in highlighting the conditions for a contemporary practice. Although aimed at performing artists and emanating from Estonia, the principles and intentions of the Manifesto are highly pertinent to visual and applied artists and to the UK.
The first meeting of the AIR Representation working group took place in Birmingham in September to discuss primary areas of research for an artists representation model.
Earlier this year, AIR members were invited to contribute to National Campaign for the Arts consultations on a new manifesto for the arts.
Research in 2006 into the effectiveness of artists’ representation structures revealed that artists ‘unions’ across Europe and elsewhere have been struggling to attract membership from newcomers to the profession.
Since 2008, AIR has been pushing for independent artist representation within implementation of Arts Council’s England’s Turning point, originally launched in 2006 as a ten-year strategic visual arts plan designed to increase government funding for the visual arts.
