Since 2000, the Artists Professional Development Network (APD) has been a UK-wide intelligence and exchange forum for organisations that are pro-actively developing information, advice, training and professional development services for visual and applied artists.
Members range from artist-led organisations to cultural industries bodies and Higher Education institutions. The APD network operates informally, responding to the need for discussion and knowledge-sharing by organising networking events and developing joint projects that strategically extend professional development opportunities for artists and trainers. Membership is free. If you are interested in joining the network, please email apd@apd-network.info for membership details and an application form or download the application form.
This year we invited APD member organisations/freelancers to apply for an award up to £2500 to support a collaborative project, in partnership with other APD member(s). We have now selected 3 projects for this award. The organisations involved are: Open Spaces Open Place together with G39; Alias together with ArtQuest; and NFASP together with AXIS. All projects will result in an event relevant for the APD membership.
Our first networking event ‘Walking, Talking, Making’ was organised by Alias in partnership with Artquest with input from independent maker/curator/writer Helen Carnac. This event took place on 18th and 19th March 2010 at Monkton Wylde Court in Dorset with a group of 20 selected makers. The documentation of the event was shared at the inaugural Craft Rally in London on 25th March 2010. Walking Talking Making report
The second research project, undertaken by Open Spaces Open Places and G39 is due for completion by end of April. These organisations have worked together to look at good practice models for APD provision. Their report is available here: OSOP g39 research report.
Our final advocacy events: ‘Value Added: Advocating for artists’ studio groups on-line‘, jointly delivered by NFASP and Axis, looked at how studio groups and their individual members can develop a powerful web presence by addressing the following: What makes for an effective advocacy message? How you demonstrate public benefit and what tools and techniques can help you to develop a website or make an existing one even better?
The event, held on 1st June at Castlefield Gallery, Manchester and 11th June at Storey Creative Industries Centre in Lancaster, emphasized the importance of digitial development as a key to artistic and studio sustainability and involved a mixture of presentations, workshop activity and networking. A summary of the evaluation of these events can be found on this NFASP website page.
NEWS:
From 1st July 2010, a-n, The Artists Information Company, will take over the administration of the website and membership. The contact email address will stay the same until further notice.
