Artquest runs an programme of events, debates, seminars and conferences both on our own and with our extensive network of partners.

Our programme includes:

• Our free-to-access, 2,000+ page website, containing everything a visual artist needs to know
• Low cost offline events - like talks, workshops, conferences, networks and other events useful to artists. Currently these cost no more than £4.
• Special projects, like our forthcoming paid internship project with Common Practice, our free Artelier artists studio swapping service, our Primer publication for new graduates, online films, artist interviews, and travel bursaries.

For more details, os special projects, take a look at our projects section and archive of everything we've ever done.

All of our programme is designed and delivered by practising visual artists - meaning everything you read is the result of actual experience.  We pay all of the artists we work with a living wage.

What drives the programme?

Artistic practice can feel quite isolated, even in a large city with lots of arts infrastructure like London. Artquest, which is staffed by professional artists, can help to encourage artists to seek critical feedback and networking around their practice. We encourage the setting up of peer mentoring groups and artists networks, provide practical advice on exhibiting your work, have articles and tips about building and sustaining a network that can help you take control of your career and move where you want to go.

At the same time, every artist, at some stage in their careers, needs to know some pretty mundane but vital piece of information to get along. How so I find an accountant? Where can I buy art materials? How much should I charge for my services? How do I claim housing benefit? Where can I find a list of UK arts residencies?

Our programme aims to provide practical support alongside critical feedback, dialogue and networking.

Working with the Artquest site

The Artquest site contains a rather daunting 2,000 pages of free to access information and advice, and can be used by anyone in the world without registration or fees.

We try to make the site as easy as possible to use.  There is a main menu, a search, and an extensive tagging system that draws in content from around the site depending on the page you're looking at.  Our aim is to provide the information you know you want, and showcase some information you might not know you wanted at all.

Artquest aims to provide advice and information that covers every aspect of an artist's life and career, including:

• Materials sources
• Studio spaces around London
• Venue listings, and advice on approaching them
• Funding and funders who can help artists, as well as financial tools and resources
• Residencies in the UK, in Europe and globally
• Reference materials for visual artists and craftspeople
• Opportunities and deadlines listings
• Printers, framers and graphics companies
• Extensive marketing and publicity advice
• Huge legal archive and free online legal advice
• Benefits, housing and employment
• Professional networks
• Step by step advice on becoming self-employed
• Listings of courses and training providers
• Advice on artist rates of pay, VAT and artists resale right
• International country guides for artists about living and working as an artist abroad

We also provide:

• Artlaw - An archive of legal articles written by renowned Art Law specialist Henry Lydiate and a free online legal advice service for London based artists. Artlaw continues to be supported by Art Monthly.
• Artelier - A free online international network of artists connecting you with practitioners around the globe and allowing you to organise studio exchanges.

Everything you ask us about that isn't already on the site becomes the basis of a new article, film, guide or set of listings.

How can I keep up to date?

• Join our email newsletter - enter your email address in the box below, in the black bar at the bottom of any page, where it says 'Subscribe to our E-Letter'.  The full E-letter comes out about every two months, containing details of our future programme, and opportunities to get involved in Artquest programmes (including residencies, bursaries, talks and debates).  We also send more frequent bulletins with news and forthcoming opportunities - around once every two weeks at the most. 
• Follow us on Twitter (we aim for about 4-5 tweets a day, and send tweets throughout our live events if you can't make it in person).  You'll get news and opportunities from us and partners if you follow #artopps
• Become our fan on Facebook for more information on forthcoming and past events, opportunities and partners.

What if I can't find what I need on the website?

If you can't fine what you need on Artquest, you can contact us with any question relating to any aspect of your practice.  Depending on the complexity of your question, we may contact you by email, telephone or arrange a one to one meeting with you.

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