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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261001T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261001T150000
DTSTAMP:20260909T103242Z
CREATED:20260507T083423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T103242Z
UID:10005232-1790863200-1790866800@visual-artists.org
SUMMARY:Art Café | From Studio to Biennale & Art Fairs: Breaking Into Major Exhibitions
DESCRIPTION:Art Café | From Studio to Biennale & Art Fairs: Breaking Into Major Exhibitions \nWednesday 1 October | 14:00 UK Time | Online | Free \nGetting into a major exhibition doesn’t happen by accident. \nBiennales\, art fairs\, and large-scale group exhibitions can be career-defining moments for an artist. But for most\, they feel like closed doors — events that happen to other people\, through connections they don’t have\, in systems they don’t fully understand. This Art Café session is about changing that. Three speakers with direct experience of how major exhibitions work — from the inside — will share what it actually takes to get your work into the rooms that matter. \nWhat you will take away \n\nA clear understanding of how biennales\, art fairs\, and major group exhibitions actually work and how artists get selected\nWhat curators\, fair directors\, and selection committees are really looking for\nHow to position your practice and present your work to the right people at the right time\nThe practical steps to take now\, whether you are applying for the first time or looking to break into a higher level\nWhat artists wish they had known before their first major exhibition\n\nWho is this for? \nArtists at any stage who want to understand how to access major exhibition opportunities and take concrete steps towards them. Early-career and established artists both welcome. \nMeet the Speakers \nLaura O’Hare is responsible for leading the artistic and business development at VAA. Laura has been working in the Fine Arts sector since 2012 and is a founder of the VAA. Presently\, Director of the Visual Art Open Prize\, the Artist of the Year Award and the VAA Art500 International Award. Laura has a wealth of experience in managing relationships with artists and understanding their needs. Laura has an extensive network including arts organisations\, galleries\, publishers and commercial partners. Laura has helped hundreds of artists figure out how to thrive at all stages of their fine art careers. Prior to working in the arts industry\, Laura was a solicitor specialising in Employment Law for over 15 years. \nDr Stephanie Dieckvoss is a Senior Lecturer in Art History and Co-Convenor of the MA in Art and Business at the Courtauld Institute in London\, which she joined in 2024. Her research focuses on contemporary art markets\, particularly emerging and alternative models\, institutional dynamics\, and the micro-geographies of artistic production and consumption. Her current work centres on the histories and practices of art fairs\, drawing on archival methods and oral histories. Her TECHNE-funded PhD examines DIY approaches within alternative art fairs in the 1990s and is currently being turned into a monograph. She has published widely in academic journals and edited book volumes. \nA Courtauld alumna\, Stephanie also holds an MA in Art History from the University of Hamburg\, an MBA (Public Services) from Warwick Business School\, and a PGCert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from UAL. Prior to joining The Courtauld\, Stephanie worked as a senior lecturer at Kingston School of Art and Central Saint Martins. \nPrior to her academic career\, Stephanie gained more than 15 years of experience in cultural management in Germany\, France\, and the United States\, working in senior roles across commercial art galleries\, art fairs and public institutions. She remains closely connected to developments in the art market as the art market correspondent for Handelsblatt and has also written for Apollo and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. \nShirley-Ann O’Neill\, founder of VAA\, is a seasoned arts director and curator with over 20 years of experience working with creatives. She is the co-author of the internationally bestselling art business books ‘Good Art Does Not Sell Itself’ and ‘Securing Representation.’ Her passion for global artist outreach and discovering new talent is evident in her curated exhibitions\, which have been showcased on BBC\, Sky News\, and International New York Times. Shirley-Ann leads the Visual Art Open Prize and VAA Artist of the Year Awards\, driving the VAA CPD & mentorship programme with courses on Art Curation & Exhibition Management\, Art Sales Academy\, and Artist Momentum. She has previously served on the selection committee for the Other Art Fair London by Saatchi Art. \n  \nFor any questions\, contact events@visual-artists.org
URL:https://visual-artists.org/event/art-cafe-from-studio-to-biennale-art-fairs-breaking-into-major-exhibitions/
LOCATION:online
CATEGORIES:Events,Art Cafe
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://visual-artists.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Art-Cafe1stoct.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261014T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261014T140000
DTSTAMP:20260914T171735Z
CREATED:20260518T111035Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260914T171735Z
UID:10005240-1791982800-1791986400@visual-artists.org
SUMMARY:Masterclass: Email Marketing for Artists
DESCRIPTION:Online Masterclass: Email Marketing of Artists \n14th October 2026 | 1:00pm – 2:00pm UK Time | Online via Zoom \n  \nMost artists know they should have a newsletter. Very few actually enjoy writing one and even fewer know what makes people want to read it. \nThis masterclass is not about technology\, templates\, or marketing tactics. It is about something far more valuable: how to write a newsletter that sounds like you\, connects with the people who care about your work\, and keeps them coming back. \nIn this session\, led by Karen van Hoey Smith\, you will hear how Alison approaches her newsletter\, what she puts in it and why\, and what she has learned from years of writing to her audience as an artist. There will be real examples\, an open Q&A\, and plenty of practical takeaways – whether you are starting from scratch or want to make what you already have feel more like you. \nAlison Aye sews collage from found papers and fabric\, calling attention to ‘throw-away society’ and embracing humour\, popular culture and current affairs. \nDaughter and granddaughter of seamstresses and coal miners\, she could sew at an early age\, and makes contemporary work that respects traditional craft and class struggle. \nHer methods are slow\, not just the tiny hand-stitching\, but also the meticulous recording of materials on Instagram\, which form an integral part of the process. Some pieces can take years to complete\, ignoring the misogynistic hierarchy of the art world\, where needlework is often neglected. \nOriginally from North-East England\, she now lives and works in South London. \nShe has been entering work for the Summer Exhibition for thirty-one years\, unsuccessfully until 2024. In 2022 she was featured on the BBC’s ‘Joe Lycett: Summer Exhibitionist’\, when her work was smuggled into the RA on Varnishing Day and displayed on the buffet table. \nWhat you will take away \n\nHow to find your voice and write in a way that feels natural rather than forced\nWhat to include in a newsletter as an artist and how often to send it\nHow to build an audience of people who are genuinely interested in your work\nWhy authenticity matters more than polish and how to put that into practice\nHow to approach your newsletter as part of your practice\, not a chore on top of it\n\nWho is this for? Artists at any stage who want to start a newsletter\, improve an existing one\, or simply understand what makes one worth reading. \nFor any questions\, contact events@visual-artists.org \nFree for VAA Premium Members | £12.49 for Standard Members | £19.99 for Non-Members \nHeadshot photography: Michelle Richards (@michellerichardsphotography)
URL:https://visual-artists.org/event/masterclass-email-marketing-for-artists/
LOCATION:online
CATEGORIES:Events,members,Masterclass
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://visual-artists.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Masterclass-Email-Marketing-for-Artists.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261022T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261022T140000
DTSTAMP:20260828T113356Z
CREATED:20260701T105653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T113356Z
UID:10005245-1792674000-1792677600@visual-artists.org
SUMMARY:Creative Accelerator Bootcamp: Online Masterclass
DESCRIPTION:Creative Accelerator Bootcamp with Karen van Hoey Smith\nDate: Thursday 22 October\nTime: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM\nFormat: Online Masterclass\nDuration: 1.5 hours \nBuild a Sustainable\, Professional Art Practice\nJoin artist mentor\, independent art broker and curator Karen van Hoey Smith for an intensive online masterclass designed to help artists develop a clear\, confident and sustainable professional practice. \nThe Creative Accelerator Bootcamp is a practical\, strategy-led session that brings together the essential elements of career development. Whether you’re emerging or looking to take your practice to the next level\, this bootcamp will help you clarify your artistic direction\, strengthen your positioning and identify opportunities for long-term growth. \nRather than focusing on theory\, the session provides practical tools and actionable strategies to help you become exhibition and gallery ready\, diversify your income\, and build a resilient creative career. \nWhat You’ll Learn\nDuring this 90-minute masterclass you’ll explore: \n\nClarifying your artistic vision\, goals and long-term strategy\nDeveloping your artist story\, personal brand and confident communication\nIdentifying your niche and ideal collectors or buyers\nCreating multiple income streams from your art practice\nFinding opportunities with galleries\, art fairs and publishers\nUnderstanding what it means to be “gallery ready”\nIdentifying gaps in your current practice and creating an action plan\nBuilding systems that support visibility\, audience growth and artwork sales\n\nWhether you’re preparing for exhibitions\, applying to galleries or looking to grow your professional practice\, this session will provide practical guidance and a clear roadmap for success.
URL:https://visual-artists.org/event/creative-accelerator-bootcamp-with-karen-van-hoey-smith/
LOCATION:online
CATEGORIES:Events,Courses,Featured Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://visual-artists.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Accelerator-Bootcamp-.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261103T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261103T140000
DTSTAMP:20260909T155910Z
CREATED:20260526T073341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260909T155910Z
UID:10005241-1793710800-1793714400@visual-artists.org
SUMMARY:Masterclass | Your Art\, Your Income: How to Earn More from Your Practice
DESCRIPTION:Your Art\, Your Income: How to Earn More from Your Practice \nDate: Tuesday 3rd November 2026 | 1pm-2pm UK Time | Online via Zoom \nBuilding a sustainable income as an artist doesn’t have to mean compromising your creative vision – it means getting smarter about how your work reaches the world. \nIn this practical masterclass\, we’re joined by Jo Scott\, aka The Travelling Artist\, who ditched the traditional art world rulebook to build a thriving creative business entirely on her own terms — from a motorhome. Jo will be in conversation with VAA’s resident artist mentor Karen van Hoey Smith\, sharing what’s actually worked\, what hasn’t\, and how artists at any stage can start earning more from what they already do. \nAbout Jo Scott \nJo Scott is an award-winning artist who swapped a fixed address for a motorhome and built a thriving creative business entirely on her own terms. Working under the banner of The Travelling Artist\, Jo has carved out a distinctive niche in animal portraiture\, capturing the personality and character of animals through routes that have little to do with the traditional fine art world. Her work has been displayed in the windows of Selfridges and recognised with a National Calendar Award\, built on a career that has threaded through greeting card design\, licensing\, and commission work. Jo’s business has grown not through galleries or the conventional art establishment\, but through understanding how art can live in homes\, and in the hands of people who simply love animals. \n@joscottartist\nFollow the Travelling Artist here \n\nThis session is for you if:\nYou want to diversify your income but don’t know where to start\nYou’ve explored licensing or commissions but haven’t made them work yet\nYou’re done waiting for galleries to discover you\n\nPlease check your local time for this webinar here: https://www.timeanddate.com/ \nFor VAA Members\, please log in first to secure your ticket.\nNon-members are welcome to join for £19.99. \nIf you have any questions\, please reach out to VAA’s Events team – events@visual-artists.org
URL:https://visual-artists.org/event/masterclass-your-art-your-income-how-to-earn-more-from-your-practice/
LOCATION:online
CATEGORIES:Events,Masterclass
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://visual-artists.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Masterclass-Your-Art.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261119T130000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261119T140000
DTSTAMP:20260526T160347Z
CREATED:20260113T103844Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T160347Z
UID:10005239-1795093200-1795096800@visual-artists.org
SUMMARY:Mentor Hour
DESCRIPTION:Mentor Hour for Visual Artists\n19th November | 1pm UK Time | Online | Free \n\nAn hour with the right mentor can change everything. \nMentor Hour is a live\, open Q&A session with Karen van Hoey Smith – one of the UK’s most experienced artist mentors – giving you direct access to expert guidance you can actually use. \nWhether you are trying to sell more work\, approach galleries with confidence\, price your art correctly\, or simply figure out your next move\, this is your chance to ask the questions that have been holding you back and walk away with real\, practical answers. \nThis is not a lecture. It is a conversation\, led entirely by the questions you bring. \nBring your questions on: \n\nStrengthening your artistic direction and confidence\nBuilding a portfolio and preparing submissions\nPricing your work and increasing sales\nApproaching galleries and seeking representation\nPlanning exhibitions or building a collection strategy\nUnderstanding the art market and positioning your work\nStaying accountable and moving forward\n\nKaren van Hoey Smith  \nKaren is an artist mentor\, independent art broker and curator with over twenty years of experience across galleries\, auctions\, consultancy and artist representation. She has brokered work by Banksy\, Picasso and Bomberg\, and has supported hundreds of artists in developing their practice\, increasing sales and gaining recognition in public and commercial settings. \nFree and open to VAA members and non-members alike. Booking is essential. \nBooking is essential. If you experience any issues\, please contact events@visual-artists.org.
URL:https://visual-artists.org/event/mentor-hour/
LOCATION:online
CATEGORIES:Events,Opportunities,Member Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://visual-artists.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mentor-Hour-KVHS-5-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261208T140000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261208T150000
DTSTAMP:20260915T104428Z
CREATED:20260511T103219Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260915T104428Z
UID:10005236-1796738400-1796742000@visual-artists.org
SUMMARY:Annual Celebration: Sharing Artists' Successes
DESCRIPTION:Sharing Artists’ Successes & What’s Coming in 2027 \nTuesday 8 December | 14:00 GMT | Online | Free \nThis is one of our favourite sessions of the year and the one that reminds us why we do what we do. \nAs 2026 draws to a close\, we are bringing the VAA community together to celebrate the artists who have shown up\, taken risks\, and built something meaningful this year. We will hear directly from members about the moments that mattered – the exhibitions\, the sales\, the breakthroughs\, and the lessons learned along the way. \nAnd because every great year deserves an even better one to follow\, we will also be sharing an exciting first look at what the VAA has planned for 2027. \nWhether you have had a landmark year or one of quiet\, steady progress – this is a conversation worth being part of. \nFull speaker details to be announced shortly. \n  \nWhat to expect \n\nVAA members sharing real highlights and turning points from their 2026\nHonest reflections on what it means to keep building a creative career\nA first look at the VAA programme and opportunities for 2027\nAn open\, warm conversation to close out the year together\n\n  \nWho is this for? \nAll artists – members and non-members welcome. Come ready to be inspired\, reflect on your own year\, and go into 2027 with renewed energy and direction. \n  \nFor any questions\, contact events@visual-artists.org
URL:https://visual-artists.org/event/annual-celebration-sharing-artists-successes/
LOCATION:online
CATEGORIES:Events,Featured Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://visual-artists.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Annual-Celebration-scaled.jpg
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