Welcome to the VAA

The value of VAA membership has never been greater – from enhanced sales opportunities and a wider global community to access to the latest professional insights, guidance and marketing technologies. We support our members with: insurance (up to £5m), networks, events, training, advice and mentoring.

Artist Insurance

At the VAA we empower artists to pursue their careers with confidence. That’s why we provide artist insurance that’s crafted to meet the needs of working artists in the UK. Protect your practice against legal liability. PPL provides cover against claims for injury to third parties or damage to third party property resulting from your artist activities.

Mentorship

The VAA’s tailored mentorship programme offers expert guidance on key areas such as Career Coaching, Critical Feedback, Marketing Insights, Pricing, Selling, and Exhibiting. Our experienced mentors use their extensive knowledge of the art industry to give you the clarity and direction you need to succeed.

Online Events

The VAA runs a variety of online events for both members & non-members. From 1-hour Masterclasses, to regular Free Art Cafes, to Members Meetings, Weekly Catch-ups and more.

Find out what we have coming up by visiting our Event Calendar today.

Short Courses

The VAA offers a variety of Online Short Courses for Members and Non-Members, covering a range of topics over 4 Weeks worth of 1-Hour sessions.

Explore our courses, and see which ones may be right for you, today.

Art Prizes

The VAA presently runs two Art Prizes throughout the year: our Artist of the Year Awards, and our International Exhibition & Scholarship Prize.

We are also a partner of the Visual Art Open Awards.

Find out more about our open prizes, and how to apply.

Artist Opportunities

The VAA keeps its members & community up to date with the latest opportunities from the world of art.

View Our Latest Opportunities

Protect Your Business

Members of the VAA receive FREE Public + Products Liability Insurance (£5 Million). This means our members feel protected with quality artist insurance.

Professional Support

Answering the age-old question, ‘how to sell art’. Our artists have the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, galleries, and publishers.

A Library of Knowledge

Our artists reach new levels with our frequently updating range of resources, training programs, and webinars. Join today for the chance to transform your career.

(Existing VAA Members can get a FREE copy of their own by accessing the PDF in the ‘Vault’ section of the VAA Website. If you do not recieve a link to download the guide after joining as a new member, you can also navigate to the ‘Vault’ to retrieve your copy.)

Four New Categories Announced for the VAA Artist of the Year 2025 Award

by Visual Artists Association | Apr 11, 2025

Exciting news for artists! Here at the Visual Artists Association we've just announced four brand-new categories for the prestigious Artist of the Year 2025 Prize. These new categories will provide even more opportunities for all artists to showcase their talent...

VAA Congratulates Winners of RSA New Contemporaries 2025

by Visual Artists Association | Mar 26, 2025

On Friday, 21st March, VAA Director Laura O’Hare had the pleasure of attending the RSA New Contemporaries 2025 to judge the prestigious New Artist Award, proudly sponsored by the VAA. As Scotland’s largest and most prolific platform for showcasing emerging talent from...

5 Tips for Photographing Your Artwork for Art Prizes – Using Just Your Phone

by Visual Artists Association | Apr 22, 2025

High-quality photos of your artwork can make all the difference when submitting to art prizes and exhibitions. Whether you’re applying to the VAA Artist of the Year 2025, Visual Art Open 2025 or building your online portfolio - presenting your work professionally...

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What VAA members had to say…

I would definitely recommend Emma's Funding Advice. She was able to clarify what would be needed to make funding success more likely, add new areas to think about to build my proposal and give link for further exploration. I have lots to think about as a result.

Anonymous

22. April, 2025.

My two meetings with Karen van Hoey for portfolio review was priceless and way above my expectations. Her honest guidelines , analysis of my work and how to push along has ignited a massive spark a very exciting time … The support team at VAA also are a massive back up and support I am most grateful to the organisation

Yasmine Shimi

25. March, 2025.

Karen is so vibrant and a wealth of information that she generously shares with everyone. She is all-inclusive and has an avalanche of ideas for every person. Her passion and enthusiasm are truly contagious, making every interaction with her a joy. She goes above and beyond to ensure everyone feels valued and inspired. If you're looking for someone who brings knowledge, creativity, and positivity to the table, Karen is the one! Highly recommend!

Bobbye C

6. February, 2025.

Solid, informed advice for artists at all stages of their careers. The genuine wanting to help artists navigate their way to a place they want to be, is reassuring. It feels like the members of VAA really care.

Nicola Powys

23. January, 2025.

Membership of the VAA has been a game-changer for me. It's opened access to the art world through the online advice and access to resources, which is phenomenal,. The top-notch webinar training is amazing, then of course there's the £5 million product and public liability insurance included in the membership fee!

9. October, 2024.

Really positive, upbeat and encouraging portfolio review with Karen. Learnt so many things in this hour that I am now starting to implement. Would highly recommend.

Alison Whateley

7. October, 2024.

I have been with VAA (Visual-Artists.org) for 2 years, and it has truly been a game-changer for my career as an artist. The platform is incredibly supportive, offering a wealth of resources and opportunities that help artists thrive in the competitive art world. From helpful webinars and tutorials to insightful advice on marketing and business strategies, VAA covers all the essentials needed to navigate the industry successfully. One of the best aspects is the supportive community of artists. It's refreshing to be part of a network where everyone is eager to share knowledge and encourage one another. Over the past two years, the mentoring program has been an invaluable source of guidance for me. VAA also offers exposure opportunities that help get your work noticed, which is crucial for independent artists. The platform is well-organized, easy to use, and updated regularly with the latest industry news and opportunities. Overall, my experience with VAA over the last two years has helped me grow both artistically and professionally, and I highly recommend it to anyone serious about advancing their career.

Andrea

4. October, 2024.

Fantastic first impression of the VAA; I required Insurance for my art practice and was delighted to discover that they offered not only this, but membership with creative, career-related benefits in addition! Made my day! Thank you to the professional team for their guidance.

Sarah Rawlins

3. October, 2024.

Just a huge thank you for organising the zoom talk with Rosalind Davis. It was very helpful and I could listen to her for hours. She is inspiring and talks with us not down to us! It seems to me that this is one of the best things to come out of the pandemic. It has opened the door to a treasury of information and a means of introduction to wonderful artists, curators and mentors are never so directly available before. Artists working in isolation - not anymore. A lifelong means of learning absolutely. I also want to say thank you for showing my work in the VAA International Online Exhibition 2021. It is such a privilege to be part of it and I appreciate all the hard work that goes on behind the scene.

Michele Noble

3. July, 2024.

It was a friend of mine who recommended you. He’s an abstract artist like myself. He said he finds your help and working with him on a one to one basis invaluable for selling and guidance and support.

Simon Dredge

3. July, 2024.

Just want to say a big thank you for the 1:1! It’s exactly what I needed. I feel like I have some real direction now and clear, practical things to work on. Really appreciate it.

Freya Rider

3. July, 2024.

I joined the VAA as I exhibited last year at CAF, and needed insurance ... since then the support I’ve had, the mentoring, the art cafes, the webinars and the networking have been invaluable for the fee charged. My main contact is Shirley-Ann O’Neil. Not only is she unbelievably supportive to me as an individual Artist, but is also offering huge support for a week long exhibition in London next June that I’m organising with two other abstract artists who are also VAA members.

Alan Yaffe

3. July, 2024.

I have found the networking aspects and the advice given from such a wide range of artists to be invaluable. Considering I do acrylic paintings, or watercolours on occasion, the advice I find from sculpturists or mixed media users, like people I never would have thought to ask for help, is so good and does help me feel passionate about what I do and enjoy it more and more.

Iain Perry

3. July, 2024.

Knowing that the VAA team is there to offer valuable advice and support to artists, who can often feel as though they’re treading a lonely path, is fantastic! To have the VAA walking that path alongside me is so reassuring. They genuinely care and actively help, wanting artists to be successful and they work hard to make that happen. They’re very friendly, professional and easy to talk to. It’s a brilliant organisation!

Susie Hall

3. July, 2024.

The most helpful aspect of being part of the VAA has been the practical advice, the resources on the website, and the connection with others that it offers. It feels very supportive, like someone’s got your back!

Samantha Clarke

3. July, 2024.

I took your advice and already it's paid off ! I couldn't wait to tell you, I sent a gallery a direct message ... they soon after liked three of my images on Instagram. Thank you.

Ursula Starr

3. July, 2024.

I took your advice and increased a few of my pieces above $3000 and I sold one within two days to a collector in Germany. Thank you so much!! I’m so overjoyed.

Sumali Piyatissa

3. July, 2024.

Would I recommend this course to others? Absolutely. I think joining the VAA is one of the best things I have done for my business and I recommend it and the courses you run all the time!

Carol Burns

3. July, 2024.

The course got me thinking about how I can help a potential buyer/customer to see the painting in their own home/office etc. and is making me feel more comfortable about the idea of 'selling', which in the past, has left me feeling like I would rather hide under the nearest table than try to sell something. These were such helpful areas to learn about. Clarifying your own discount terms is very useful, but learning how to re-frame objections and turn them into positives, how awesome. I'm looking forward to trying it out. And of course, learning how to counteroffer and close (and shut up) was just as helpful. Karen is so enthusiastic, just listening to her makes me want to go out and sell something!

Anetta Price

3. July, 2024.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the course and would recommend any artist to sell their work. It's been the best short course I have been on. Many of the skills I have learnt are transferable to other areas of my business. Thank you to all the team for me.

Karen Holt

3. July, 2024.

I really enjoyed the portfolio review. It gave me a useful external perspective on my work. It was a lively broad-ranging discussion. I took a lot of notes but I haven't had time to work through them yet. I enjoy being part of the VAA, the online meetings are useful and interesting, the insurance is very good, and the helpdesk is outstanding.

Juli Fejer

3. July, 2024.

Did the programme meet your expectations?

More than met! Great amount of information and expertise shared by Karen in a fun way. I have a lot to work on! The supporting documents and guides plus the group who joined made this an amazing course.

What would you like to have more of?

Momentum 1 year on course?? I cant think of anything the course could cover more on in the time, it was thorough and overwhelming with information, in a good way!

How likely are you to recommend the VAA to others?

Already have! Really enjoying being a member of VAA, the team of expertise, the support, the courses, the guides and looking forward to the mentoring programme.

Mel Wyatt

3. July, 2024.

Karen's mentorship has been instrumental in sharpening my skills and deepening my understanding of the art world. Her tailored advice, rooted in extensive experience, has not only enhanced my technical abilities but also my confidence as an artist. I am particularly appreciative of the personal attention she dedicated to addressing my unique challenges and goals. Investing in this programme has been a transformative experience, the reward I received was beyond expectations and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone serious about advancing their art career.

Yang Xu

3. July, 2024.

Karen's super quick brain and creativity thought of avenues and solutions that I hadn't considered. The whole programme, portfolio review/momentum and now mentoring has turned the business side of things up a notch. I feel empowered and more confident knowing that I have the resources of the VAA behind me and I'm excited for the next 12 months. Watch this space!

Jane Wilson

3. July, 2024.

If you are considering the Mentorship Program and wondering if it is worth the investment, I can emphatically say that it is. The VAA Mentorship Program has given me the tools I needed to move my art career forward. With the help of this program, I have had as many shows in the first quarter of this year as I had in the entire previous year. With a better understanding of how to plan and execute my goals, I have, for the first time, booked my entire year with shows and other opportunities. This program is well worth the time and investment, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to take the next step in their career.

Carlo Savo

3. July, 2024.

I started my mentoring with Karen Van Hoey Smith with a six month programme and kept renewing my sessions for over a year now. Karen's outside-the-box thinking has given me some fantastic ideas for my art career. She’s helped me develop a solid strategy and laid out a clear step-by-step process to reach my goals. Her support has been both inspiring and incredibly helpful.

Pavlina Vagioni

3. July, 2024.

I joined the VAA earlier this year and have benefitted so much from their help and support. From fantastically informative webinars to opportunities and vital information it has been the most inspirational and motivational boost I needed for developing my arts practice. Most recently I attended a webinar on Crowdfunding; such a useful insight with really knowledgeable and approachable speakers. Highly recommended.

Deborah Crofts

24. June, 2023.