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Career Development Resources for Visual Artists

Publications

Information for Artists: A Practical Guide for Visual Artists, CARO (Canadian Artists Representation Ontario (now CARFAC Ontario)
This extensive guide is CARFAC's answer to a steady influx of inquiries from artists about career challenges. The publication, written by various people involved in the visual arts, offers in-depth strategies for presentation, grants, publicity, and business.

Survival Skills for Visual Artists, 7 "sampler" issues, Visual Arts Ontario
This anthology of articles covers a broad range of professional development concerns, including artist's statements, presentation, grants, taxes, and marketing.

Perfect Portfolio, Visual Arts Ontario
This booklet introduces visual artists to the basic concepts of effective portfolio presentation. Part I addresses the need for a professional approach to promotion; Part II analyzes the background context to portfolio presentation; and Part III examines the various components usually included in a portfolio.

The Artist's Statement, Visual Arts Ontario
This excerpt from Perfect Portfolio (see above) addresses issues related specifically to the artist's statement and variations on it.

Promoting Yourself as a Visual Artist, CARFAC Ontario
These seminar notes (October 2003) provide some very useful information about an artist's "promotional toolbox," including the dossier, in order to "noticed by the right people in an effective and timely manner."

Model Agreements for Visual Artists: A Guide to Contracts in the Visual Arts, Paul Sanderson, CARFAC Ontario
This practical booklet provides some general comments about artists' contracts, and offers model agreements for artist/agent, bills of sale, commissions, copyright licences, exhibition loans, lectures, performance art, print publishing, rentals and video art.

Artist-Public Gallery Exhibition Agreement, CARO and OAAG
Sample agreement form.

Information for Artists: Model Releases, Paul Sanderson, CARO
This publication covers short- and long-term release information for "a person who poses for an artist."

The ARTS Professional Career Development Seminars for Visual Artists, Guelph Arts Council
These notes summarize what was presented during a series of workshops offered by Guelph Arts Council specifically to address practical issues related to the writers' career development needs.

Taking Care of Business, CARFAC
This excerpt from CARNET Includes information on CARFAC Copyright Collective and on establishing exhibition arrangements at a place of business [e.g. restaurant] (including model Loan Agreement for Purpose of Sale).

Minimum Exhibition Fee Schedule, CARFAC
This schedule sets minimum fees that the CARFAC Copyright Collective has negotiated for various kinds of exhibitions (regional, national, touring, etc.)

Hidden Dangers in the Sale of Artworks, CARO
This reprint covers legal matters that arise during the course of the sale of artworks.

Artist Checklists, CAR0
This excerpt from CARNET includes both the Artist/Dealer Checklist (see below) and the Artist/Public Exhibition Checklist.

Artist/Dealer Checklist, CARO
This fact sheet provides a check list for artists entering into a relationship or reassessing an existing relationship with a commercial gallery.

Selling Out: The Truth About Art Dealers in Canada, Barbara Gilbert
This article from MIX magazine covers aspects of the artist/dealer relationship from approaching an art dealer to contractual negotiations.

Professional Art Dealers Association of Canada (P.A.D.A.C.)
P.A.D.A.C., a national, non-profit organization, includes the largest representation of major private commercial galleries in Canada. This publication comprises a list of member galleries.

Ontario Association of Art Galleries Directory
This directory lists public galleries, artist-run centres, art museums, community galleries, businesses, associations and related organizations in Ontario.

The Annual Craft Shows Book, Ontario Crafts Council
This helpful publication lists over 225 craft shows taking place across Ontario during the year. Organization is chronologically by month, but also includes indices by town and name of show.

Crafts in Ontario: Shops and Galleries, Ontario Crafts Council
This publication lists retail outlets and public galleries across Ontario that take work on consignment or wholesale.

Craft Resource Guide, Ontario Crafts Council
This directory lists sources of craft supplies, equipment and services for the benefit of Ontario craftspeople.

Certificate of Canadian Origin, CARFAC
This certificate relates to the temporary export original works of art.

On Your Own: Alternative Exhibition Strategies, Visual Arts Ontario
The limited availability of spaces to exhibit work has forced visual artists to create their own venues. This 120-page handbook takes the artist through the exhibition process step-by-step with information on identifying appropriate sites, organizing co-operatives, finding funding sources and organizing an opening.

CARNET: A Magazine for Visual Artists, CARFAC
This 1992 issue of CARNET contains some interesting articles on art crossing borders, photocopies as original prints, moral rights and public lending rights.

Canadian Copyright Law, Lesley Ellen Harris
This recent publication by a respected lawyer and copyright expert sets out in everyday language the legal jargon of the Canadian Copyright Act, providing concrete examples to clarify complicated issues. Includes an update on copyright issues related to digital media.

Copyright for Visual Artists, CARO This fact sheet summarizes the copyrights that commonly pertain to visual artists. It covers the specific rights and includes some examples for practical applications.

Self-Management Workbook for Visual Artists, CARO This publication summarizes the copyrights that commonly pertain to visual artists and includes some examples for practical applications as well as other matters of interest to visual artists.

The Right of Public Presentation: A Guide to the Exhibition Right, Canadian Conference of the Arts
This booklet explains the exhibition right (introduced with the 1988 amendments to the Canadian Copyright Act) -- to what works it applies, when it applies and how to deal with it. Some sample forms are included.

Ontario Arts Council Grants, compiled by Guelph Arts Council
This binder includes general information about Ontario Arts Council as well as copies of guidelines for most granting programs.

Canada Council Grants, compiled by Guelph Arts Council
This binder includes general information about Canada Council for the Arts as well as copies of guidelines for most of its granting programs and deadlines.

A Grants Primer: Guidelines on how to make an application, Visual Arts Ontario
Seasoned artists and public funding officers provide a practical overview of the process of applying for a grant. The materials relate principally to individual artists applying to public funders.

How to Provide Audio Visual Support Materials for Applications, Competitions and Exhibitions, Ontario Arts Council
This booklet offers information on how juries work as well as how to prepare and produce materials.

How to go about getting an OAC grant, Sheila Pattison This excerpt from FUSION magazine summarizes an interview in 1995 with Robert Jekyll, OAC associate officer responsible for visual arts, crafts and designs, including his points on how an artist can improve the odds for receiving an OAC grant.

Ensuring Fair Assessments, Visual Arts Ontario
This excerpt from a special edition of Agenda is written by then Ontario Arts Council Visual Arts Officer Margaret Dryden, outlining how OAC strives to achieve fairness in grant assessments.

Sitting between Art and Grant, Visual Arts Ontario
This excerpt from a special edition of Agenda is written by an anonymous artist from the perspective of someone sitting on an Ontario Arts Council jury.

Studio Safety Checklist, CARFAC
This worksheet is for visual artists assessing their studio environment for safety.

Business Entities for Artists, ALAS (Artists' Legal Advice Services)
This information sheet summaries the main business entities that artists can look at.

Tax Interpretation Bulletins, CCRA (Canada Customs and Revenue Agency) There are some dozen tax bulletins that cover areas affecting the tax status of visual artists.

Estate Planning for Visual Artists, Liz Wylie, CARO A practical guide to making informed decision about the future of an artist's work including information on wills, power of attorney, probating, copyright and taxes.

Guidelines for Professional Standards in the Organization of Juried Exhibitions, CARO

Guidelines for Professional Standards in the Organization of Fund-raising Auctions, CARO

Guidelines for Organizing Art Commission Competitions, Garry Conway, CARO

Public Art Competitions: Guidelines for Sponsors, Administrators, Jurors, and Artists, City of Halifax Art Allocation Committee

Guidebook for Competitions and Commissions, Visual Arts Ontario This publication is a comprehensive step-by-step guide to the process of commissioning art, including competition options, sample call-to-enter and competition briefs, budget analysis, procedures for sponsor and artist, technical manual, model contract

The Trials of Jurying: Guide for Exhibition Organizers and Jurors, Susan Eckenwalder, Ontario Crafts Council
This book draws attention to some of the situations affecting jurying that can arise, and suggests possible ways to deal with them. Although focussed on exhibitions, it also has tips for other juried situations (grants, co-op shops, fairs, etc.)

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