ARTISTS TALKING

Bringing you updates and announcements on a-n people, partners and projects.

Calling universities

a-n has been inviting proactive universities across the UK to sign up and participate in a new competition aimed at 2004 art and design graduates. Along with some star prizes, the competition will provide hundreds of emerging artists from these selected universities with a free or introductory subscription to a-n. This will give the lucky winners subscriber-access to the wealth of material on www.a-n.co.uk, including critical features on contemporary practices and making a living, our weekly-updated Opportunties and jobs service; thirty expert guides to everything from marketing to self-employment and approaching galleries; a-n Magazine online and in print, and special discounts on art services and supplies.
To find out how to become a participating university, contact the Communications and Sales team on 0191 241 8000, ads@a-n.co.uk

Professional developments

Cultural Enterprise Office, Glasgow and a-n partnered on a gathering on 23 February, to discuss development of a forum for professional development for artists in Scotland
Held at CCA Glasgow, the event attracted 29 organisations and individuals who represented a variety of interests and approaches to professional development. A presentation around the future environment for artists and their social and cultural context was followed by workshop sessions to explore:
How supporters and enablers of continuing professional development can help artists realise their potential as connected, informed and professional practitioners.
How structures and initiatives can be developed that address the current and future needs of artists whether they are 'focusers' (introspective) or networkers (extrovert), operating at the centre (urban) or the edge (rural).
The kinds of existing or evolving schemes, structures, mechanisms will be most relevant to artists in the future, and ideas about beginning to put them in place.
The event was chaired by Stephen Beddoe, Artquest, London, who shared the findings from the new APD (Artists Professional Development) development strategy with participants, and expressed support for future exchange between APD and a new Scottish network. Notes of the session discussions will be circulated to the APD network participants by Cultural Enterprise Office in the near future.
Cultural Enterprise Office, Glasgow provides business support through advice, information and training for freelance arts practitioners and micro businesses working in all artforms, across Glasgow. It is currently developing funding and partnerships in other areas to develop its services across Scotland's four cities. See www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk for details of free seminars and events and the online business resource.

Glasgow Art Fair 2004

This month a-n will be out and about at Glasgow Art Fair. A Code of Practice seminar hosted by Susan Jones will take place Friday 16 April. The event is free to artists. See display advert on back page or visit www.glasgowartfair.com to book a place. To celebrate the success of the NAN Scotland initiatives, we are hosting a party for partners in Scotland and exhibitors from the Extension area of the fair. See our special Glasgow What's on listing section on page 14 for details of organisations exhibiting at Extension and Real Art Week.

Staff news

Welcome back to Grainne Sweeney who returned from her maternity leave at the beginning of March. Welcome also to John Kent who joins the team as our Financial consultant bringing with him a wealth of arts and business financial experience, including consultancy for ARC Stockton and The Customs House, South Shields.