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.

Did you know that VAI operate a help-desk. The Help-Desk is one of the central services of the organisation. Issues dealt with include – public art commissioning, sourcing artists, artists’ rights, costing proposals, insurance, legal advice, debt issues etc. Those requesting information include members, professional artists, local authorities, the public, commissioners and arts co-ordinators. You can contact us anytime for all your visual art needs: http://visualartists.ie/resources/help-desk/

Did you know that VAI operate a help-desk. The Help-Desk is one of the central services of the organisation. Issues dealt with include – public art commissioning, sourcing artists, artists’ rights, costing proposals, insurance etc. Those requesting information include members, professional artists, local authorities, the public, commissioners and arts co-ordinators. You can contact us anytime for all your visual art needs: http://visualartists.ie/resources/help-desk/

Visual Artists Ireland members can now register with Artelier. Artelier is for professional visual artists to arrange free studio exchanges with their peers anywhere in the world. You can also use it to network with artists in your local area or overseas. For more information see: visualartists.ie/resources/studio-exchange-programme/

Visual Artists Ireland has an active advocacy and representation programme. VAI monitors policies and takes on the key issues that concern professional artists generally in relation to their status, rights and income. It also represents the interests of individual artists on a case-by-case basis in relation to specific issues covering areas such as tax and self employment, funding, social security, contracts, copyright, insurance and many more.

To inform this work VAI is calling on members to assist us in our advocacy role by creating or joining local interest groups with a feedback channel to VAI. We are currently establishing a regional network of artists who can inform us of issues at a local level and provide feedback on matters that affect artists across Ireland. These groups will help guide the advocacy work which we undertake while also assisting us from time to time by engaging with the issues at hand.

Register your interest in volunteering here: http://tiny.cc/Advocacy_Volunteer or contact Alex Davis E: alex@visualartists.ie or Ph: 01 6729488.

We have prepared a series of Advocacy Datasheets that give some starting points for discussion, for research and to garner response surrounding the key areas of advocacy pertaining to the individual artist:

• Datasheet #1 – Topic: The Status of the Artist in Ireland
• Datasheet #2 – Topic: Education
• Datasheet #3 – Topic: Further Education
• Datasheet #4 – Topic: Work life
• Datasheet #5 – Topic: The Artists Charter
• Datasheet #6 – Topic: Ireland: international engagement

You will find these datasheets here: Advocacy Datasheets

Friday 4th May from 12pm to 2.45pm | Aideen Barry, Western Representative for Visual Artists Ireland will host a VAI Info Clinic at the Ennistymon Courthouse. This is the second time the artist has run a VAI Info Clinic and follows on from the success of the last clinic in 2008.  The Clinic is open to all artists, art students, artist led initiatives, curators and cultural practioners working in the visual arts. Aideen is keen to meet everyone and to have a chat about the needs and concerns of visual artists in the Clare region. The Clinic is an informal way for you to come and find out about the Visual Artists Ireland Organisation: its professional development courses, recent opportunities and information on the services that the organisation provided for artists and organisations.

Aideen Barry is a full time practicing visual artist as well as the western representative for VAI she also Lectures in Limerick School of Art and Galway Mayo Institute of Technology.
The clinic runs from 12pm to 2.45pm and is free for all. For further information on the VAI please visit www.visualartists.ie

We are the sum of our parts. Our members !

Visual Artists Ireland has an active advocacy and representation programme. VAI monitors policies and takes on the key issues that concern professional artists generally in relation to their status, rights and income. It also represents the interests of individual artists on a case-by-case basis in relation to specific issues covering areas such as tax and self employment, funding, social security, contracts, copyright, insurance and many more.

To inform and compliment this work VAI would like to establish advocacy volunteer groups across Ireland; a regional network of artists who can inform us of issues at a local level and provide feedback on matters that affect artists across Ireland. These groups will help guide the advocacy work which we undertake while also assisting us from time to time by engaging with the issues at hand.

Want to get involved ?

As a professional artist what are your needs and concerns? What is the current situation or difficulties in your area? Are there issues which VAI should be engaging in advocacy work on?

We’d love to hear from you if you are already involved, or would like to get involved, at a local level. Perhaps you are a member of an artists’ or studio group where specific needs have been collectively identified? Even better if you are interested in helping to establish a local advocacy group.

Register your interest in volunteering here: http://visualartists.ie/education-2/current-programme/?ee=79

Did you know that VAI has a huge online presence: The Visual Artists News Sheet Archive; Printed Project Archive; The Common Room Social Network for the Visual Arts; The Visual Artists Ireland Daily; Twitter: VisArtsIreland; Facebook. For links to all see www.visualartists.ie

Visual Artists Ireland members can now register with Artelier. Artelier is for professional visual artists to arrange free studio exchanges with their peers anywhere in the world. You can also use it to network with artists in your local area or overseas. For more information see: http://visualartists.ie/resources/studio-exchange-programme/

Did you know that Visual Artists Ireland has a dedicated ‘Members Contact Area on its website. Membership of VAI entitles you to inclusion on the Members Contact Area – publish your contact details and description of your practice on our website. For more see: http://visualartists.ie/resources/visual-art-address-book/