Self Assembly

Self Assembly is a talks programme providing practical advice and case studies on different aspects of a visual artist's career.

This roaming programme, aiming to visit as wide a range and geographic spread of London's art organisations as possible, provides practical insight into different elements of an artists practice.  Each talk comprises a general introduction to the topic in hand and a case study, presented by an artist, using their career as inspiration.  Each talk is also recorded and made available on this page for the benefit of artists and craftspeople anywhere in the world.

Past Self Assembly Seminars:

What Networks Mean for Artists

Tuesday 23rd November 2010 at APT Gallery

This session looked at the importance of artist's networks and how to build then using your practice as starting point. Included a presentation by artist Melanie Stidolph. Session was run in partnership with Q-Art  

Self Assembly - Pricing your work mini series at Conway Hall.

This seminar series provided artists with ideas on pricing their own work, helping them understand the context in which work is sold and how pricing works in different specialisms. Sessions covered: 

  • The Basics of Pricing and Editioning with Medeia Cohan-Petrolino, Curator, University of the Arts London

    Thursday 16 September 2010

    This talk covered general but key principles to consider when pricing your artwork and also look at approaches and considerations when pricing editions.

  • Pricing Film and Video with Stuart Croft, filmmaker and lecturer at the Royal College of Art

    Wednesday 29 September 2010

    Stuart's talk will looked at the specific challenges and problems of setting prices for film and video art.

  • Pricing Installation with Bea de Souza, from The Agency Gallery

    Wednesday 27 October 2010

    Drawing on her extensive experience of selling and editioning installation art, Bea looked at how pricing structures work for this medium.

  • 'Pricing Performance' with Laura Eldret, from CollectingLiveArt

    Monday 8 November, 6.30 - 8.00pm

    Performance art is perhaps one of the most difficult media to sell, price or collect: Laura explored how performance can be collected and priced.

Websites and Social Networks

Thursday 22 July 2010 at Conway Hall

Just how important is it for artists to have a website? What are the alternatives? Do you tweet? Is Facebook a valuable medium for promoting your work or just a drain on your time?  Artist Jessica Voorsanger talked about how her website and the internet have created opportunities for her and her practice.

Working as an Artist Educator  

Friday 7th May 2010 at Matt Roberts Arts 

Session looked at approaches to working as an artist educator, with a presentation by artist and educator Cath Hawes. In association with Matt Robert's Open Forum 2010.   

Artists Rates of Pay

Monday 16 November 2009 at London Printworks Trust

Covering artists rates of pay, including a presentation by practicing visual artist and events organiser Alex Julyan.

Contracts

Monday 28 September 2009 at Kew Studios

Focussed on contracts for artists and included a presentation by solicitor Giles Dixon, director of the Contracts Store.

Peer mentoring and support

Saturday 20 June 2009 at Camden Arts Centre

Presentations on peer mentoring and support, including a presentation by William Clifford, who took part in Artquest's 2008 Forum project.

Self Promotion

Monday 6 April 2009 at London Print Studio

Looking at self promotion for artists, including case studies by artist Gordon Cheung.

Funding

Thursday 19 February 2009 at the Hackney Wick Community Training Centre

Focussing on different forms of funding artistic projects and practice.  Curator Hannah Liley presented case studies from her own curatorial practice and gave practical advice on approaching and securing funding.

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This article is from the Artlaw Archive of Henry Lydiate's columns published in Art Monthly since 1976, and may contain out of date material.
The article is for information only, and not for the purpose of providing legal advice.
Readers should consult a solicitor for legal advice on specific matters, and artists in London can get free online legal advice from Artquest