This free series of online workshops from the Scottish Artists Union will explore how artists collaborate to develop their own models of support and representation.

Have you been thinking about learning new skills? Are you looking for new learning opportunities or specific training?

We support STUC Trans Policy Position:
Transphobia has no place at work. Everyone should be safe to be themselves at work and be treated with dignity and respect. The STUC firmly supports trans people and the position of self-identification. The STUC has, and continues to proudly support campaigns to promote, protect, and advance the rights and livelihoods of transgender people in Scotland. It is STUC policy to support reforms of the 2004 Gender Recognition Reform Bill and self-identification. The STUC encourages all employers to embed trans inclusive workplace policies and to actively work with trade unions and LGBT+ workers to promote and achieve trans equality at work.

Download the STUC Trans Equalities Guide 2023

One Shared Owner: artists talking about governance models with Briana Pegado & Embassy.

In this online workshop, Briana Pegado will share some of the key factors that artist-run groups need to consider before choosing a governance model. We will explore legal structures and constitutions, and understand the responsibilities/legal requirements of taking on the legal structure, in order to help you choose the right model for you. Briana will also share their experience of adapting the various models and realising they have some fluidity and movement.

We are also delighted to be joined by Frieda Ford, Georgia Holman and Maria Wrang-Rasmussen who were all members of the EMBASSY committee in Edinburgh during a period of research, reflection and shared conversation, in order to update their governance structure and allow the operational committee to be fairly paid. They will share the changes made to EMBASSY’s articles of association that allowed them to change their governance structure, and how they implement the support for the first ever Board and produce a plain speech version of their constitution.

Zoom registration

Read the ‘Artist-Led Organisations in Scotland: Survey and Mapping of Activity’ research report, undertaken by Scottish Artists Union on behalf of Creative Scotland.

A new, free series of online discussions introducing neurodiversity and neurodivergent identity to arts practitioners as part of our Learning Programme.

Thursday 31 August, 10:00 - 12:30, Online via Zoom

Are you thinking of applying for funding for your practice, project, or a collaboration and don't know where to start? Do you know the basics, but would like to improve your skills? Perhaps you don't know where to even find funds in the first place? 

This practical online workshop led by Briana Pegado will take you through the process of writing a successful funding application. It aims to cover all aspects of structuring your application and offer top tips and advice to ensure that your submissions have every chance of success. The workshop will focus on:

• How to talk about yourself and your practice using a personal values compass

• How to write a good funding application based on a strong proposal

• How to think about evaluating and monitoring your impact as an artist 

• How to budget, including how to calculate in-kind costs

• Resources you can use to guide you

• A very quick intro to different types of funding and fundraising

This 2.5 hour Zoom workshop will involve some practical writing exercises, so bring along something to write or type with. There will also be Q+A, where we will be encouraging questions and discussion from participants. There may be an opportunity for you to discuss your work with a partner in virtual breakout rooms, but if you would prefer not to work 1:1, Briana can adapt the workshop to the collective's needs.

Workshop leader, the amazing Briana Pegado, is an artist and author of Make Good Trouble: A Guide to the Energetics of Disruption. She works as an anti-racism facilitator and consultant for arts organisations including Glasgow International, the Glasgow Connected Arts Network, and Africa In Motion Festival. She is Founder of the Edinburgh Student Arts Festival (ESAF), Community Engagement Producer for OMOS, and former Co-Director of We Are Here Scotland.

3 part online course via Zoom 

Wednesday 12th July, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Wednesday 26th July, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Wednesday 2nd August, 6:30 - 8:30pm

Each year approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health condition and research has shown that work is the biggest cause of stress which can stop people performing at their best. This course is aimed at artists, craft makers and art workers at all stages in their career who work with people in community or socially engaged projects and want to gain an accreditation from the First Aid Awards (SCQF level 5).

This 6-hour qualification provides learners with the knowledge to recognise a range of mental health conditions, how to start a supportive conversation and when and how to signpost a person to seek appropriate professional help. Learners will know how to recognise and manage stress and understand the impact of substance abuse. They will learn about the first aid action plan for mental health, be able to put it in place and know how to implement a positive mental health culture in their workplace. Learners will not diagnose or treat mental health conditions as this can only be carried out by healthcare professionals but will gain the knowledge to identify when a person may have a condition and know where they can go to get help.

Please find more information and learning outcomes here: Qualification Specification (PDF)

Assessment 

The whole course will be delivered live online with everyone together then each person will have a 1:1 with the trainer online, at an agreed time for them (takes approx 15 minutes) to complete a professional discussion applying the action plan for mental health that was discussed throughout the course. This will include a 13 question assessment mainly multiple choice answers all relatable to the content delivered and the candidate needs to achieve 20 out of a possible 27 points to pass. Each question will be spoken over with the trainer and the answer typed up together.

Book Now

Being as this course is accredited you will need to attend all three online sessions in person and then complete the assessment. Sessions will not be recorded and so please make sure you are able to attend all the dates before reserving your place. Spaces are limited to 16 people and allocated on a first come, first served basis. We will hold a reserve list and may run the course again if it’s over subscribed.

Please email Kirsten on [email protected] to register your interest.

Art, Work & Power : Online 5 part course //

Art & Social Practice : Online 4 part course //

As artists and makers are still juggling online and IRL workloads, the union are advocating for everyone to consider undertaking a digital detox during December. To help you get ready, this free course, will look at ways we can improve our relationship with technology, and how we can use it in a more positive, and less intrusive way.

The recordings from this course are available for members to watch in the Learning Resources area until Monday 9th January 2023 (please note: you will need to be logged in as a member to access this page).

This October the SAU's learning programme contains FREE workshops, walks and talks in person from Ullapool to Ayr including a series of events, developed in collaboration with Scottish Union Learning and EIS, and lead by members in the Highlands to celebrate Black History Month.

Wednesday 27 July, 10:30am, Online via Zoom, FREE training event!

A series of six monthly artist-led walks funded by Scottish Union Learning in the Highlands & Islands; for members to meet up in person and enjoy good company in a safe environment. We are getting out and about, moving around, walking, talking, thinking, and having some time out from our studios, offices, screens and chairs! These walks are open to all members and supported by a series of online presentations from the artists leading the walks, so please tune in even if you can't attend the walk!

Join artists Lynne Strachan and Mary Bourne as they talk about their project Cabrach Reconnections in remote upland Moray, and Virginia Hutchison as she shares her project Stories of Radical Landownership in North Lewis. Followed by a discussion on what works and what to avoid!

About Cabrach Reconnections

During 2021 Moray-based artists, Lynne Strachan and Mary Bourne developed an arts project in The Cabrach, a remote upland area just on the Moray side of the border with Aberdeenshire. The project’s aim was to find ways for people to reconnect with each other through arts activities and to get out and enjoy the stunning scenery and wildlife in the area, reconnecting with nature. Having spent time with the people in this place, the artists produced an exhibition exploring some of the challenges facing the local community.

Instagram @cabrachreconnections

About Stories of Radical Landownership in North Lewis

Produced in collaboration with artist Virginia Hutchison this project brings together narratives surrounding the community land buyout of the Galson Estate in 2007. Created during the COVID pandemic in 2020/2021 the project weaves together local audio archives and interviews and brings them into contemporary conversations surrounding community land ownership. With access and social distancing measures in mind the project has taken the form of a series of cast bronze artefacts temporarily sited in the landscape of North Lewis. Embedded with digital QR codes the artefacts link visitors directly to the audio works via mobile phone.

“If you didn’t know the names of these places you couldn’t talk about them.” [1]

Underpinning the interviews are recitals of the Gaelic place-names that define North Lewis. A gentle call and response between Gaelic and English - though not a direct translation - through the landscape, geography and history of the area. 

This project was produced in conversation with artists Stephen Hurrel and Fiona Rennie. Many thanks to the Galson Estate staff and community. Special thanks to Agnes and Frank Rennie, Lisa Maclean, Annie MacSween, Iain Gordon Macdonald, Richard Collins (Edinburgh University), Edinburgh College of Art and Blackbay Recording Studios. 

Start the new year with a new online course from 19 January to 16 February 2022. This five-week exploration into Gàidhlig aims to deepen your understanding of Gaelic language, its cultural context and visual representations.

"In today's climate, social media is a great leveller that brings artists into contact with the people who love their work. … for artists working in visual media, Instagram is an incredibly useful tool that can fuel your success when used effectively."

Navigating the Art World: Professional Practice for the Early Career Artist, Delphian, 2020

This free series of online workshops from the Scottish Artists Union will explore how artists collaborate to develop their own models of support and representation.

“There is power in artists working together to make things happen” Manifesto for Artist-Led Work

Each of the six sessions are hosted by an invited artist-led organisation which will provide a provocation and facilitate discussion around a range of topics that impact collective working.

Fair Work is work that offers all individuals an effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect. It balances the rights and responsibilities of employers and workers. It generates benefits for individuals, organisations and society.

Thursday 3^rd December, 7-8pm

Art & Activism: Climate Change Awareness 

This second session with artist & activist Ellie Harrison. Harrison’s work seeks to make visible the connections between social, environmental and economic injustices in our world, and to actively address them.

In 2010, she became the first visual artist to publish an Environmental Policy. In 2016, she slashed her carbon footprint for transport to zero and made headlines with her ‘controversial’ project The Glasgow Effect. A real-life experiment in ‘thinking globally and acting locally’, for the whole calendar year she refused to leave Glasgow’s city limits, or use any vehicles except her bike. Her first book The Glasgow Effect: A Tale of Class, Capitalism & Carbon Footprint was inspired by the 2016 project and published by Luath Press in November 2019.

As a result of her 2016 project, Harrison is now involved in running several local projects and campaigns aimed at making Glasgow a more equal, sustainable and connected city, including the Get Glasgow Moving public transport campaign, Carfree Glasgow and Glasgow Community Energy.

Register with Zoom here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.