One of the many ways that artists can earn a living is working in a gallery education programme.
Gallery education programmes often run in publicly funded spaces. They are a way for the gallery to engage with their audiences. Education programmes can take the form of talks and workshops.
Good examples of public gallery education programmes are
Engage is a membership organisation providing support for artists working in this area. Their website explains what gallery education is and how to get work in it.
Below is an interview with the Young People’s Co-ordinator at the South London Gallery:
Experienced artist-educator Cath Hawes, talks about working in various educational contexts:
Gallery education vs social engagement
Some galleries conflate gallery education with an artist’s socially engaged practice. If you work in this way is important to clarify if you are being commissioned as an artist or a ‘service provider’.
The working relationship between an artist and gallery is different for a commission. It’s a straightforward employer / freelancer relationship if you’re employed to deliver a workshop.
Artist Emma Smith talks below about how her practice and socially engaged commissions:
Disclosure and barring checks
If working with children or vulnerable adults, artists need a Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
The gallery should request an application form from DBS or an umbrella organisation. They should pass this to the artist to complete and return along with documents proving their identity. It’s not possible to apply for these checks as self-employed/individual. The application has to come through an organisation.
A DBS certificate only contains information from a DBS check on a specific date and for a particular purpose. Any information included will be accurate at the time of the check. It is up to an employer to decide when a new check is necessary. Artists can enrol in the DBS Update service for a small fee and avoid having to pay for extra checks.
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