This section of the info~pool provides an overview of the different approaches to practicing as a professional artist.

Artists, Commercial Galleries and the International Art Market
Fred Mann provides an account of how commercial galleries work, how they differ from museums or other public spaces, how they exist in the wider international art market and their relationships with artists.

With Practicality comes a Practice: the Artist as Curator
Sarah Pierce reviews the role of the artist as curator in historical art practice and posits the relevance of the artist-curator as a vital precursor to the field of curating in contemporary practice.

Artists and Curators
Noel Kelly reviews the relationship that exists between artists and curators and looks at some of the opportunities and challenges that are presented to artists through working with curators.

Artist / Gallery Relationships – When trust proves itself to be misplaced
In this article, Noel Kelly, CEO Visual Artists Ireland, discusses VAI’s current experience of artists not being paid, or whose work has gone missing with some best practice tips on how to avoid this.

Awards Bursaries and Grants
Neva Elliott provides an introduction and overview of the opportunities, challenges and compromises that are presented to artists when they apply for awards, bursaries and grants.

Exhibiting with Galleries
Hugh Mulholland presents an overview of the opportunities and challenges that are presented to artists through the exhibition of their work through established galleries.

I’m Thinking of Getting a Studio
Alan Phelan examines what constitutes an artists studio and explores the various ways artists use the studio. He also highlights some of the issues to considerbefore getting a studio.

Re-Entering the Visual Arts
A basic guide to re-entering the art world and promoting your practice

Self-Organisation as a Way of Being
Paul O’Neill provides an introduction and overview of the opportunities and challenges that are presented to artists who choose to initiate their own projects as part of their practice.

Public Art Practice for Artists and Commissioners
Cliodhna Shaffrey and Ruairí Ó Cuív’s text brings artists and commissioners through the complexity of the commissioning process – from preparation of ideas through to realisation of work. They explore the possible pitfalls and challenges of working in this area while also examining the critical dynamics of client-artist relationships.

Postgraduate Education, Training and Scholarships
Siún Hanrahan explores some of the postgraduate education, training or other types of professional development programmes that are available to artists and considers some of the opportunities and challenges that may be presented.

Undertaking Commissions
Annette Moloney provides an introduction and overview of the opportunities and challenges that are presented to artists who choose to pursue the undertaking of commissions as part of their practice.

Undertaking Residencies
Sarah Glennie examines the opportunities and challenges that are presented to artists who choose to undertake residencies as part of their practice.