We aim to list submissions within 5 working day (we all work part-time) and promote the best on our Instagram. See below for some guidance on what we can list.
What we list
We list high-quality, paid opportunities for artists. We also list specialist artist service providers that can't easily be found from a simple internet search.
- We do not charge for listings.
- We reserve the right to select opportunities and listings and do not list everything we are sent.
- Our decision on what to list is final.
- If selected for listing, we may edit your submission for clarity.
- We will contact you for more information if your submission is not clear.
Opportunities
Opportunities we do list include:
- Exhibitions
- Residencies
- Commissions
- Awards, prizes and competitions
- Grants and fellowships
- Conference presentation
- Professional development
We do not list:
- Unpaid professional opportunities for artists
- Opportunities with submission fees, unless you can explain why artists have to pay to work with you
- Exhibitions. Try Art Monthly or ArtsNews and ArtsJobs instead.
- Jobs, internships and volunteering opportunities. Try ArtsNews and ArtsJobs or the Artsadmin Anchor.
- Opportunities for non-professional artists (e.g. students, young people or amateur artists).
- Surveys or research.
- Courses, talks and workshops. But we can add you to our Directory as a provider.
Directory
Our Directory focusses on signposting to other specialist listings, like studios and galleries, rather than maintaining a list of individual organisations. We are particularly interested in individual listings for:
- Mentoring
- Accountants who specialise in artists
- Arts-specialist legal advice
- Professional development
- Research, archives and libraries.
We do not list general specialist services that artists tell us they find through word of mouth or general internet searches like:
- Photographers
- Printers
- Professional and membership organisations (see our article on networking instead)
- PR
- Website developers (see our article about website and social networks instead)
- Art fairs.
Our values
We exist to make the art world a more equitable place for artists. We look for the following standards in the opportunities or organisations we list.
- High-quality: opportunities with artist development at their core.
- Equity and access: organisations who are actively working to reduce barriers for those facing any form of structural discrimination.
- Flexibility: opportunities that understand artists live outside of their practice, and work sensitively around non-negotiable responsibilities such as childcare, pregnancy, or other significant caring responsibilities.
- Accessibility: opportunities that demonstrate willingness to reduce barriers for disabled artists. Disabled artists are under-represented in the arts and some need a bit extra support, whether in making applications or money to help access opportunities.
- Fees: reasonable fees paid in line with Artists Union England, a-n, or international guidelines where the opportunity is outside of the UK. At minimum, fees must be in line with the national minimum wage. If artists are not paid, only those relatively more privileged get to make art
- Feedback: organisations should aim to provide feedback on applications to all artists on request, even if this can only be brief. Artists need feedback to make better applications next time, and to progress in their careers.
- IP and copyright: terms and conditions relating to intellectual property that are produced as a result of the artist’s work are reasonable and negotiable. Where income is likely to be generated, this will be shared with the artist.
- Terms and conditions: other terms and conditions are negotiable and clearly mentioned in written agreements.
- Contracts: a written record (which may be on email) of what has been negotiated and agreed will be shared between the artist and the organisation. Clear agreements mean artists and employers understand who is doing what, and when everyone gets paid.
- Budgets: reasonable materials and technical costs, plus transport and other exhibition costs, are included in a budget that is separate from the artist’s fee for their time.
- Submission fees: submission fees present a barrier to many artists, and some very small artist-led groups rely on them to fundraise for some projects. Artists should not be asked to support the work of other artists by paying to access opportunities. Opportunities that include a submission / application fee will only be exceptionally listed, where these do not cover core staffing costs, replace organisational funding, are unreasonably high, or are required for each item in an application.