ACAVA Talks

Artist development
2023–Ongoing

ACAVA Talks is our professional development event programme for creative practitioners.

Through skills training and peer-to-peer networking, ACAVA Talks is designed to support creative practitioners in establishing and sustaining careers in the creative sector by enhancing skills, knowledge, networks, confidence, and well-being.

Our pilot series includes webinars from sector experts on how to present yourself and your creative practice, writing impactful fundraising applications, demystifying artist residencies, pricing your artwork, and how to develop a socially engaged artistic practice – a theme that will run through the series.

And in-person and networking events create spaces where artists and creative practitioners can come together to make new connections and share ideas.

Tickets

Tickets are now available for the first four events in the programme. Book your place via the event link.

Webinar ticket: £5 / £1 concession*

ACAVA studio holder webinar ticket: Free

Networking event tickets: Free for all

Recordings of online events will be available to all ticket holders after the event.

*Concession tickets are available for those on low incomes or unwaged. If you are able to please consider paying the full fee, we are a registered charity and income from tickets directly supports the ACAVA Talks programme.

Book your place for an ACAVA Talks event

Events programme:

Unpacking public programming

Webinar

When: Postponed to Friday 3 May, 1–2.30pm
Please email profdev@acava.org if you have any queries

Format: Online panel discussion

What role does public programming play in helping to build an audience? How can it benefit your practice?

Join this ACAVA Talks webinar with Pacheanne Anderson to gain an understanding of what public programming is, and how it can play an important role in engaging the public with the arts and building your artistic audience. Anderson will unpack the nuances of navigating public programming and explore the art of how to make it a part of your practice.

About Pacheanne Anderson:
Pacheanne Anderson is a curator, writer and consultant who produces arts and cultural events to put Queer, Trans*, Black & POC Artists in spaces where they’re more likely to meet collectors, journalists and other artists and curators. Anderson’s central focus is to dispel any restrictions and barriers to entry for artists who have previously been underrepresented in the art world through nurturing their practice and art world knowledge outside of institutional frameworks.

Networking event

Online event

When: Fri 12 April 2024, 12-1pm

Format: Online networking

This event has ended

A warm and welcoming online gathering, designed and lightly facilitated by ACAVA to enable conversation and collaboration between creatives.

Networking event

Online event

When: Thu 14 Mar 2024, 12-1pm

Format: Online networking

This event has ended

A warm and welcoming online gathering, designed and lightly facilitated by ACAVA to enable conversation and collaboration between creatives.

Demystifying artist residencies

Webinar

When: Tue 12 Mar 2024, 1pm-2.30pm

Format: Online panel discussion

This event has ended

Join us for a panel discussion to hear residency-experienced artists and art residency providers discuss their personal experiences of taking part, organising, and selecting artists for residencies. Find out more about different types of residencies, how to make your application stand out, and how to make the best out of your residency once you’ve been selected.

With Chantal Powell (founder of the residency program Hogchester Arts), JD Rooney (artist), Lisa-Marie Harris (artist) and Maggie Matić (Curator of Studios & Residencies at Studio Voltaire).

Networking event

Online event

When: Fri 23 Feb 2024, 12-1pm

Format: Online networking

This event has ended

A warm and welcoming online gathering, designed and lightly facilitated by ACAVA to enable conversation and collaboration between creatives.

How to price your artwork

Webinar

When: Tue 20 Feb 2024, 1pm-2.30pm

Format: Talk and discussion delivered by Artquest

This event has ended

Do you struggle to add a price to your work? Are you confused by the various resources available online?

In this free webinar, Artquest’s Programme Co-ordinator Tom Pope will discuss what’s entailed when selling work – from identifying audiences, and editioning works to establishing prices. The session will be followed by a Q&A where you can contribute your questions. This webinar will be free for all.

About Tom Pope
Tom Pope is a visual artist with previous experience in arts education and events. Tom’s art practice combines performance and photography collaboratively and playfully. He is the Programme Co-ordinator at Artquest. 

About Artquest
Artquest exists to help make the art world more equitable for artists. They support visual artists at all stages of their careers in England, providing free access to robust and trusted career information, advice, opportunities and resources. They also conduct specialist research on artists’ livelihoods to produce insights supporting the wider arts sector and helping artists meet their ambitions.

Networking event

Online event

When: Mon 22 Jan 2023, 12-1pm

Format: Online networking

This event has ended

A warm and welcoming online gathering, designed and lightly facilitated by ACAVA to enable conversation and collaboration between creatives.

A practical guide to developing a socially engaged artistic practice

Webinar

When: Thu 18 Jan 2024, 2–3.30pm

Format: Online talk with Q&A by Isabella Niven

This event has ended

Are you interested in co-creation as part of your socially engaged artistic practice? Would you like to work with charities and cultural organisations engaging creatively with communities?

Join this ACAVA Talks webinar with Isabella Niven to gain an understanding of what organisations are looking for when recruiting socially engaged artists. Find out what values, skills, and experience are required to successfully deliver a co-created community project; and how positive social, health, and wellbeing outcomes can be achieved through co-creation.

About Isabella Niven:
Isabella has led on the development and delivery of ACAVA’s arts in health and wellbeing programming for the past 12 years. She grew ACAVA’s community offer in North Kensington from a single project in 2011 to a programme of life-long opportunities for local children, families, young people and older adults. She now heads ACAVA’s Social Practice team, developing sector leading co-creation opportunities for artists and communities in locations across our studio portfolio and beyond.
With 18 years of experience in the cultural and charitable sectors, organisations Isabella has worked for include BOP Consulting, the NSPCC, and Milton Keynes Gallery. She has sat on the RBKC Arts Grants Panel, the NHS WLCCG Third Sector Transformation Steering Group, and most recently 3ST, a group of like-minded charities joining together to support & develop health and statutory services across northwest London.

Networking event

Online event

When: Wed 22 Nov 2023, 12.30-1.30pm

Format: Online networking

This event has ended

A warm and welcoming online gathering, designed and lightly facilitated by ACAVA to enable conversation and collaboration between creatives.

Writing for Impact

Webinar

When: Tue 21 Nov 2023, 1-3pm

Format: Online talk with Q&A led by Lucy Stone

This event has ended

Are your funding applications lacking impact? Could your case for support be refined?

Funders receive huge numbers of applications and letters so it’s important to make your writing and applications clear and stand out. Sign up for this ACAVA Talks webinar with fundraising consultant Lucy Stone to learn how to improve your applications, with insight into: using behavioural economics to transform your writing; top tips on what works including language and layout; funders’ pet peeves; types of writing including free form applications, letters and applications; cases for support – what are the key messages you need to include; using examples to highlight key information; common traps people fall into and useful resources. Come prepared with questions and Lucy will do her best to help!

About Lucy Stone:
Lucy Stone from No Stone Unturned Fundraising has worked in the Charity sector for over 20 years and has raised £11.4 million writing applications ranging from £100 to £1.2million. During COVID Lucy supported organisations to raise £92 million through advice, guidance, webinars & application reviews by working with membership organisations and Local Authorities. For this work Lucy won the Music Venue Trust Outstanding Contribution Award in 2021. Lucy is currently supporting a range of organisations including Music Venue Trust, De La Warr Pavilion, Creative Crawley, Together Co and Brighton Fringe.

Networking event

Online event

When: Fri 20 Oct 2023, 5-6.30pm

Format: Online networking

This event has ended

A warm and welcoming online gathering, designed and lightly facilitated by ACAVA to enable conversation and collaboration between creatives.

How to present yourself and your creative practice

Webinar

When: Thu 19 Oct 2023, 1-2.30pm

Format: Online talk with discussion facilitated by Becca Pelly-Fry

This event has ended

Do you find it challenging to accurately present yourself and your creative practice? Have you struggled to approach galleries and curators?

Join this ACAVA Talks webinar to hear independent Curator Becca Pelly-Fry discuss what attracts curators to artists and how to build long-lasting working relationships with other creative professionals. You’ll also learn how to best showcase your work online and present yourself as professional and reliable.

About Becca Pelly-Fry:
Becca is an independent curator, facilitator and cultural consultant who works collaboratively with a wide range of artists and arts organisations across the UK. She was Director and Curator of Griffin Gallery and Head Curator for Elephant West before going freelance. Becca is currently ACAVA’s Interim Head of Professional Development and is leading the rollout of our new professional development programme.

We will also be hosting two in-person networking events to create a space where artists can come together to find connections and support. More information will be announced soon – watch this space!

We will be collecting feedback on the content and formats of this pilot programme to inform the future development of the ACAVA Talks programme.