The Visual Artists Charter project was initiated by VAI to address the professional relationship between artists and those that they work with. The Artists Charter takes the form of a code of practice, commonly agreed upon, which adopts principles of good practice and demonstrates why and how they should be applied. The core aim of the project is to provide a set of practical and ethical guidelines for the conduct of business between visual artists and organisations. View the charter here. VAI remains open to and interested in feedback from artists and the publicly funded organisations that they work with. This is a living document and may be adapted as issues arise over time.

If you have recently been involved in a public commission, percent for art project, socially engaged project or any other form of ‘art outside the gallery’ we would like you to email us the information for publication in the May / June issue of the  Visual Artists News Sheet. Send images (3-4MB in size) and a short text (no more than around 300 words) in the following format:

-Artists name
-Title of work
-Commissioning body
-Date advertised
-Date sited / carried out.
-Budget
-Commission type
-Project Partners
-Brief description of the work

Work must have been undertaken in the last 6 months.
Send your info ASAP to Publications Assistant, Lily Power at: lily@visualartists.ie
Deadline 29 March 2013.

Visual Artists Ireland would like to wish all our members, subscribers and readers a very healthy and happy 2013. We have lots planned for the year ahead most notably the second annual networking and professional development event the ‘Visual Artists Ireland Get Together 2013‘ to be held on Friday 28 June 2013 at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin.  Don’t forget to save the date! The Get Together 2012, held at Limerick College of Art and Design was a great success and an important opportunity for us to meet our artists from all over the country and to address their professional needs. You can read more about and view some of the resources  from the Get Together 2012 event here: http://visualartists.ie/education-2/professional-development-resources. Further details and booking information for  Get Together 2013 will be announced soon.

The staff and board of Visual Artists Ireland would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Our offices will be closed from December 21st 2012 to January 3rd 2013. We look forward to continuing to provide you with our help and support in 2013.

Noel Kelly
Director / Chief Executive Officer
Visual Artists Ireland

It has come to our attention that some of our members have recently been contacted by the Parallax Art Fair, looking to sell them a space at their fair in 2013. Our members were informed that their contact details had been provided by Visual Artists Ireland. VAI would like to confirm that we are not familiar with this art fair, have no connection to it and have not provided the organisers of the fair with any of our members contact details. VAI strongly advises artists to verify all details and terms and conditions of opportunities to their own satisfaction before forwarding artwork, monies or documentation or signing contracts.

For Northern Ireland / UK Artists: The RBS EnterprisingU is a nationwide business plan competition hosted by Find Invest Grow (FIG) and sponsored by the RBS Group . The competition is open to any student or graduate (of up to five years) who has an idea that needs investment to help kick-start the business. At the final event, up to 10 finalists will have the opportunity to pitch for investment to a room full of high net worth individuals and active investors who are looking to mentor and fund student and recent graduate start-up businesses. Students and recent graduates are given the chance to win cash prizes from £5,000 to £25,000 to help start their company. Deadline 19 July 2013

Visual Artists Ireland and Dublin City are pleased to announce Joanne Laws as the recipient of the 2012 Annual Visual Art Writing Award.

The award was first launched in 2011 and has been devised as a developmental opportunity for writers, as part of Dublin City Council Arts Office and Visual Artists Ireland’s commitment to encouraging and supporting critical dialogue around contemporary visual arts practices.

For the 2012 award, applicants were asked to propose a thematic article looking at how the visual arts might respond to a decade of commemorations.

Joanne will receive continued editorial support and mentoring from VAI and an honorarium from Dublin City Council Arts Office of €800 – comprising a €500 commission to write for the March / April of The Visual Artists News Sheet and a €300 commission to write a short essay as part of the LAB’s 2012 / 2013 programme.

UCD College of Science is delighted to announce the four recipients of the new artist in residence scheme. They are Siobhán McDonald, Meadhbh O’Connor, Mark Cullen and Emma Finucane. Each of the selected artists have worked on significant projects in the area of art and science and each in very different ways.

The aim of the residency is to enable artists, scientists and students to collaborate in creating new work. In this pilot phase, a one year residency is being offered to these artists, that includes studio space in Science Centre South, artists’ fee, access to lectures, and other resources within the College of Science. Most importantly, it will facilitate direct collaboration between the artists and scientists in UCD.

www.ucd.ie/science/news/12nov/091112_artists_in_residence.html

In recent times, we have seen a significant increase in the number of artists contacting us with stories of being expected to deliver exhibitions and other events such as talks and education programmes either for free or with just their travel expenses covered. It is obvious that this mode of practice is not only inequitable but also fails to recognise the professionalism of visual artists.

In our annual survey, we gather details of artists incomes, but we feel that it is now necessary to look at the area of exhibition and other events fees. We have based this survey on one undertaken by the American organisation W.A.G.E.

To assist us raise awareness of the current situation across Ireland, and to provide detailed statistics and figures, we ask you to complete this survey. In it we wish to get a full and accurate picture surrounding artists’ fees around Ireland.

The survey should take no more than 10 minutes. The link will open a new window. All information is anonymous and confidential. The survey will close on 21 December 2012.

Access the survey here:  www.surveymonkey.com/s/BDH7RNB

The National Campaign for the Arts is undertaking a pre-budget blitz that Visual Artists Ireland is asking for you to support. As there are only 4 weeks left before the budget announcements, the blitz is to send an email to your local representatives to highlight the need for continued support for the arts. Their text reads:

“In 2012, the National Campaign for the Arts worked hard to make a compelling and persuasive case for the arts. We directly informed politicians and public representatives across parties and independents, gathering considerable momentum. We contributed to public debate, now a matter of public record, in the Seanad and the Dail, and made a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Now we look to 2013, where we know our work will be cut out for us on local turf the length and breadth of the country. And in the context of The Gathering and the EU Presidency, what is local will play out nationally and internationally. That work begins with Budget 2013.

Campaign Message – Budget 2013: We call on Minister Deenihan to protect the allocation of funding for the arts achieved through the Arts Council, Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland, and Minister Phil Hogan to protect Local Authority funding.”

There are guidelines on their website (http://ncfa.ie/index.php/campaign/pre-budget-2013#102)on how to have your voice heard on this matter.

Also, you will find on the Visual Artists Ireland website (http://visualartists.ie/advocacy/advocacy-datasheet-1-topic-the-status-of-the-artist-in-ireland/) a series of datasheets covering the national issues that are currently a part of our advocacy work.

Please contact our advocacy officer Alex Davis if you have any questions about our work in this area and how you can help.