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Finding The Right ArtistsThe main things to look out for when selecting artists for a project are quality and track record. The quality of their work is important because it is very hard to live with the legacy that a poor piece of work leaves behind. Track record is vital because it provides the proof that they can work well in the type of situation you expect them to. It is also vital that you choose artists who are people oriented and whose portfolio of past work demonstrates this clearly. There are several straightforward steps you can take to ensure the highest possible chance of success. When working with tight deadlines and a heavy workload it is often tempting to skip these stages.
By taking a little time to establish a few good contacts within the art sector, to communicate with other Trusts who have done similar work in the past and to utilise the knowledge and experience within your regional branch of Arts Council England, you can set up sound working relationships that will save you having to reinvent the wheel each time you need to find an artist. The Arts Councils of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as the primary funders of the arts, have a comprehensive overview of artists working in your region, of their track record and capabilities, and of the types of situation within which any given artist works most effectively. They should be able to refer you to a selection of artists and to people who have employed them in the past, enabling you to get good advice based on past experience. Databases of artists do exist but can be problematic in terms of accuracy of information, whether or not they are up-to-date, regionally relevant, or indeed tell you much about the artists past work. A good database will give you an overview of the variety of artists working within your region and of the types of work they undertake. The database itself, however, should not be used as a quick way to shortlist. Part of the function of this web site is to signpost you towards professional peers within the arts sector and also to provide a glimpse of high-quality arts projects that have taken place within Groundwork. Side-by-side with this website, a discussion group has been established on the Groundwork intranet to enable Trusts to exchange details of artists and working methods. |
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