INFORM: professional development
INFORM is our professional development workshop program that includes sessions on business skills, presentations by industry leaders, information sessions and networking events.
INFORM provides creative professionals with the knowledge, skills, information and contacts necessary to establish and maintain a successful practice and build a sustainable creative business. These valuable sessions are open to everyone with discounts available to Guildhouse Members.
Since 2016 this program has consistently been artist led and informed by the direct feedback and needs identified by artists, craftspeople and designers. After much consultation and reflection with our creative community, we have continued to evolve this program amidst broader sector offerings to develop and deliver a meaningful, impactful, valuable and complementary program that supports creatives in their professional practice.
These valuable insights have shaped the development of this program, and we are excited to share a significant shift in approach and delivery of INFORM in 2024 focusing on three key pillars: Artist’s Personal Well-Being, Sustainable Arts Practice and Communication Development.
Facilitated by Guildhouse, specialised professionals are invited to present key information, skills and resources to equip, encourage, inform and develop artists, craftspeople and designers in identified areas of need.
INFORM Events
2024
Beyond Blocks and Barriers
This session has been developed in response to the ongoing need for artists, craftspeople, designers – and really everyone! – to nurture and experiment with different practices and processes in support of their ongoing personal well-being.
Facilitated by Erin Faehrmann, Lead With Play.
The Boring Bits – Tips For Managing Resources from an Artist, Designer and Secret Admin Nerd
Join artist and designer Stavroula Adameitis aka Frida Las Vegas for a deep-dive workshop exploring ‘the boring bits’ of an arts vocation in this practical yet light-hearted seminar. This session is medium agnostic and especially valuable for solo practitioners who are curious about how other creatives manage time, money and energy.
Artist as Fundraiser and the Art of Raising Funds
Join an interactive workshop to explore the role fundraising and private investment can play in supporting your artistic projects and practice. Delivered by Hannah Kothe, the State Manager Development and Partnerships (SA/NT) at Creative Australia, the workshop will cover key foundational fundraising principles, including how to craft a compelling Case for Support.
From the Ground Up – Tackling artist statements, bios and documentation
This practical professional development workshop will cover tackling writing artist statements, biographies and the photographic documentation of your arts practice.
Me, My Strengths and I
This 90-minute session looks at the science and tools of positive psychology to be more effective in your art practice, your business and at home, helping you to flourish.
What, When, Now and (Not Now): Approaches in juggling and developing a sustainable arts practice
Presented by Maz McGann, this session looks at opportunities to grow your career and pathways that can help your income align more closely with your ambition.
Preparing Art Objects for Travel and Storage
This session is a practical presentation, demonstration and discussion in how to approach preparing art objects for travel and storage by Artlab Australia.
Art writing for Artists
Whether you want to develop your artist statement or build confidence to write about your own and others’ practices, this workshop identifies common challenges to arts writing and tips on how to overcome them.
2023
Application Writing with Kate Larsen (grants, awards and residencies)
Get tips and tricks on writing applications for grants, awards, residencies and more in a specialist application writing workshop with leading arts, cultural and non-profit consultant Kate Larsen.
In this session Adelaide-based writer, arts manager and non-profit/cultural consultant Kate Larsen taught how to write successful applications for grants and opportunities.
Photographing Your Work
This hands-on workshop with creative all-rounder Sharmonie Cockayne will break down the basics of styling and photographing your work, without the need for expensive cameras or studio lighting.
Selling your Work Online
Discover how to best promote and successfully sell your work online in this interactive lab-style workshop with Lauren Byleveld – the founder of Studio Veld.
Tax in Real Terms with The Real Thiel
Sort your money stuff out so you can get on with making art.
Experienced Chartered Accountant Lauren Thiel specialises in working with creatives. In this session Lauren will guide you through the basics of preparing and lodging a tax return and dispelling common myths around what can be claimed and the record keeping required.
Art Packaging and Handling
Learn how to package and handle your work for travel and storage in this practical demonstration presented by Artlab’s Senior Objects Conservator, Justin Gare. You’ll also be given an insight into the innovative techniques used in the preservation of the State’s collections as well as family treasures.
Brush with the Law, Contracts, Copyright and AI with Arts Law Australia
Artists are increasingly using technology to create, promote and sell their work. Whether that is experimenting with AI, promoting yourself on social media or finding out your work has been copied online. This session will look at copyright, technology and how the law affects your creative practice online
2022
Application Writing with Kate Larsen (grants, awards and residencies)
Get tips and tricks on writing applications for grants, awards, residencies and more in a specialist application writing workshop with leading arts, cultural and non-profit consultant Kate Larsen.
In this session Adelaide-based writer, arts manager and non-profit/cultural consultant Kate Larsen taught how to write successful applications for grants and opportunities.
Brush with the Law, Contracts, Copyright and Intellectual Property with Arts Law Australia
Creating art often means creating copyright. Let us walk you through owning and using your copyright, as well as creating copyright with other people. We’ll talk about what happens if someone uses your copyright without your permission, and how to get permission if you’d like to use someone else’s work.
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Pricing your Artwork
Like other occupations, artists deserve to be paid a fair price for the work they produce. Being clear and consistent when it comes to pricing gives you credibility as an artist but it can be difficult to know how to set your prices. Learn how to structure your pricing process, taking into account your time, material costs as well as professional skills, reputation and expertise in this session presented by Sarah Weston Business Development and Creative Partnerships Manager of Craft.
Application Writing with Kate Larsen (grants, awards and residencies)
Sharpen your grant writing skills and build your confidence in this interactive online workshop specifically designed for creative practitioners presented by leading arts, cultural and non-profit consultant Kate Larsen.
Tax in Real Terms with The Real Thiel
Sort your money stuff out so you can get on with making art.
Experienced Chartered Accountant Lauren Thiel specialises in working with creatives. In this session Lauren will guide you through the basics of preparing and lodging a tax return and dispelling common myths around what can be claimed and the record keeping required.
Art Packaging and Handling
Learn how to package and handle your work for travel and storage in this practical demonstration presented by Artlab’s Senior Objects Conservator, Justin Gare. You’ll also be given an insight into the innovative techniques used in the preservation of the State’s collections as well as family treasures.
Photographing Your Work
This hands-on workshop with creative all-rounder Sharmonie Cockayne will break down the basics of styling and photographing your work, without the need for expensive cameras or studio lighting.
2021
Application Writing Kate Larsen
How do you best write about yourself and why your work is important? What makes a successful application? How do you write a budget?
In this session Adelaide-based writer, arts manager and non-profit/cultural consultant Kate Larsen taught how to write successful applications for grants and opportunities.
2020
Supercalifragilisticexpi-annuation
These sessions with Statewide Relationship Manager Kyla Pizzino guided attendees through the basic steps of Superannuation. From general super for sole traders, part-time employees and families, through to the government co-contribution scheme for low income earners.
In Real Terms: Tax Prep with The Real Thiel
This session with Chartered Accountant Lauren Thiel guided attendees through the basics of preparing and lodging a tax return and dispelling common myths around what can be claimed and the record keeping required.
Experienced Chartered Accountant Lauren Thiel specialises in working with creatives and hosted these webinars for the Guildhouse community online.
In Real Terms with The Real Thiel
This session was aimed at those figuring out their next steps financially amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to navigate both the short and long term impact on practice.
Experienced Chartered Accountant Lauren Thiel specialises in working with creatives and hosted these webinars for the Guildhouse community online.
Guildhouse Insurance 101
In this webinar Guildhouse’s Executive Officer Victoria Bowes unpacked the basics of insurance.
Victoria will guided attendees through the basics of the Guildhouse Accredited and Allied Insurance packages and assist them in navigating their practice and projects during challenging times.
Brush with the Law: Contracts, copyright and intellectual property with Arts Law Australia
What is the difference between copyright and intellectual property and how do you own, maintain and potentially commercialise your intellectual property? This session looked at contracting and took attendees through what a contract is, and some of the key issues artists often deal with when negotiating arts contracts.
Presented by Suzanne Derry, National Partnerships and Programs Senior Solicitor, Arts Law Centre of Australia.
2019
Symposium: From Studio to Gallery
Guildhouse proudly presented a symposium unpacking the trajectory of an artists practice From Studio to Gallery. The symposium featured four panel discussions chaired by industry leaders, who shaped conversations between emerging, mid-career and established practitioners.
Providing further context to the conversations, the event was held at the reputable praxis ARTSPACE Gallery + Studios in Bowden. The Symposium concluded with a showing of the praxis ARTSPACE Studios, and discussions with studio artists over light snacks and a beverage.
CATAPULT Christopher Williams and Johannes Sistermanns
Christopher Williams (South Australia) and Johannes Sistermanns (Germany) discussed their experiences and learnings together as part of the Catapult mentorship, complemented by a presentation of experimental sounds and atmospheric responses.
The Guildhouse Fellowship In Conversation with Lisa Slade and Kirsten Coelho
AGSA Assistant Director, Artistic Programs Lisa Slade and internationally renowned local artist Kirsten Coelho discussed the impact of a Fellowship on an artist’s practice. Coelho was the recipient of an Arts South Australia Fellowship and at the time was conducting international research and development for two new bodies of work in porcelain.
Copyright Agency Cultural Fund: Grants for Writers, Artists and Organisations
Looking for support to pursue professional development and career enhancing opportunities, or create new work? The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund offers grants to support individuals working in the writing, publishing and visual arts sectors. They also offer career-sustaining Fellowships for established authors, visual artists, publishers and teachers.
The Cultural Fund is the philanthropic arm of the Copyright Agency. This was an opportunity to hear more about the Copyright Agency’s support from Nicola Evans, Head of the Cultural Fund.
Brave New World
2018
Tax + Wine = INFORM with Brian Tucker
This session was about understanding your tax basics; what paperwork you should keep and how to organise it before you visit the accountant. Recognising what expenses you can claim and how to claim them; why you need an ABN and why you may not need to be GST registered. Learning about what sort of business structures might be appropriate (or inappropriate) for your practice; how income averaging works. Discovering what ‘tests’ the ATO use to work out if you are really “in business” as an artist. Hearing about how to defend your position against the possible assertion that “this is surely just an expensive hobby”. Spot the perils of section 35-10 of Division 35 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
Packaging Art Objects for Travel and Storage with Artlab Australia
Artlab Australia’s conservators care for cultural heritage, working across five specialised laboratories. Attendees learnt how to pack work for travel and storage in this practical demonstration presented by Artlab’s Senior Objects Conservator, Justin Gare. They were also given an insight into the innovative techniques used in the preservation of the State’s collections as well as family treasures.
Copyright Agency Cultural Fund: Grants for Writers, Artists and Organisations
Looking for support to pursue professional development and career enhancing opportunities, or create new work? The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund has a grant program that supports individuals working in the writing, publishing and visual arts sectors. They also offer career-sustaining Fellowships for established authors, visual artists, publishers and teachers.
This was an opportunity to hear about their grant program from Copyright Agency representatives Nicola Evans and Tristan Chant.
Arts Grants – Funding your creative practice
Looking for funding or support to assist you to realise your goals? Creative practitioners in South Australia are fortunate to have access to a number of programs that can help you grow and sustain your practice.
With this session attendees learnt more about the opportunities available to local artists and what makes a strong and competitive application in this panel discussion featuring glass artist, Clare Belfrage; Art Gallery of South Australia’s Assistant Director, Artistic Programs, Lisa Slade; and installation artist, Nicholas Folland – all of whom have extensive experience both successfully applying for funding and sitting on the peer assessments panels. Attendees not only had the opportunity to speak to the panel but representatives from Arts South Australia, Adelaide City Council and Helpmann Academy were also present to answer questions.
2017
Packaging Art Objects for Travel and Storage with Artlab Australia
Artlab Australia’s conservators care for cultural heritage, working across five specialised laboratories. Attendees learnt how to pack work for travel and storage in this practical demonstration presented by Artlab’s Senior Objects Conservator, Justin Gare. They were also given an insight into the innovative techniques used in the preservation of the State’s collections as well as family treasures.
Balancing the Books: one-on-one with Brian Tucker
This was an exclusive opportunity to sit down with esteemed public accountant Brian Tucker and receive personalised one-on-one support. Attendees got to go through the finer points of lodging your tax return, receive advice on pricing your work, establish the rules regarding record keeping and deductions or even how to structure your business or collective – Brian was available to answer any tax and accounting questions
Not an expensive hobby – financial management and tax for artists
This session was about understanding your tax basics; what paperwork you should keep and how to organise it before you visit the accountant. Recognise what expenses you can claim and how to claim them; why you need an ABN and why you may not need to be GST registered. Learn about what sort of business structures might be appropriate (or inappropriate) for your practice; how income averaging works. Discover what ‘tests’ the ATO use to work out if you are really “in business” as an artist. Hear about how to defend your position against the possible assertion that “this is surely just an expensive hobby”. Spot the perils of section 35-10 of Division 35 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
Going global – building an international profile
Ever wondered if it’s worth exploring international opportunities? Interested in applying for a residency, exhibiting at an international art fair or working with a gallery overseas but unsure if it’s worth the investment?
This session brought together a panel of three South Australian arts practitioners with impressive international profiles – Julie Blyfield, Bridget Currie and Aldo Iacobelli – to provide an insight into their experiences working overseas. Attendees learnt how it has impacted their practices, what you need to consider when an opportunity comes your way and how to find support.
How to Price Your Work
Like other occupations, artists deserve to be paid a fair price for the work they produce. Being clear and consistent when it comes to pricing gives you credibility as an artist but it can be difficult to know how to set your prices. Attendees learnt how to structure their pricing process, taking into account time, material costs as well as professional skills, reputation and expertise in this session presented by Jane Bowden, partner Zu design – jewellery + objects (gallery, workshop and retail outlet).
Working hard for the money – building a sustainable practice
Ever wondered how to support yourself as an artist? Interested in how other creatives manage their arts practices and make a living? This was a pragmatic discussion with three of South Australia’s leading creative practitioners – James Dodd, Nick Mount and Sera Waters. Attendees learnt how they approach their practices, what considerations they give to the commercial viability of their work, how they value their time and balance the need to make money with fulfilling their creative aspirations.
Arts Resourcing
Looking for funding or support to assist you to realise your goals? Arts South Australia’s funding and grants program supports skills and career development and the creation, development and presentation of new work by independent practising professional South Australian artists. Attendees learnt more about the grants available in 2017 and what makes a strong and competitive application in this session presented by representatives of Arts South Australia’s Independent Makers & Presenters and Public Art & Design programs, and artist and previous member of the peer assessment panel, Clare Belfrage.
2016
Not an expensive hobby – financial management and tax for artists
This workshop took attendees through the effective management of tax for artists and creative professionals. This session helped attendees to understand the financial management basics of running a creative practice.
Adelaide Gallerist Speak – Inside Adelaide's Commercial Gallery Scene
Ever wondered how commercial galleries decide whose work they show? Interested in getting an insider’s perspective of Adelaide’s private sector from those at the helm of three of the State’s leading commercial galleries? This session was presented by Paul Greenaway of GAGPROJECTS; Hugo Michell of Hugo Michell Gallery; and Sam Hill Smith of Hill Smith Gallery during where they gave an insight into their individual approaches, including objectives, interests and activities, as well as the sector in general.
Contemporary Curating
Ever wondered how curating works? how museums and galleries decide whose work they show? Interested in how arts organisations develop their exhibition programs?
Attendees gained insight into how arts institutions, museums and galleries define their approach to curating. Attendees heard about the methods and ideas that curators work with and how large exhibitions and shows are developed.
Packaging Art Objects for Travel and Storage with Artlab Australia
Artlab Australia’s conservators care for cultural heritage, working across five specialised laboratories. Attendees learnt how to pack work for travel and storage in this practical demonstration presented by Artlab’s Senior Objects Conservator, Justin Gare. They were also given an insight into the innovative techniques used in the preservation of the State’s collections as well as family treasures.
How to Price Your Work
Like other occupations, artists deserve to be paid a fair price for the work they produce. Being clear and consistent when it comes to pricing gives you credibility as an artist but it can be difficult to know how to set your prices. Attendees learnt how to structure their pricing process, taking into account time, material costs as well as professional skills, reputation and expertise in this session presented by Jane Bowden, partner Zu design – jewellery + objects (gallery, workshop and retail outlet).
Arts Resourcing
Looking for funding or support to assist you to realise your goals? Arts South Australia’s funding and grants program supports skills and career development and the creation, development and presentation of new work by independent practising professional South Australian artists. Attendees learnt more about the grants available in 2017 and what makes a strong and competitive application in this session presented by representatives of Arts South Australia’s Independent Makers & Presenters and Public Art & Design programs, and artist and previous member of the peer assessment panel, Clare Belfrage.
INFORM News
INFORM: Art Packaging and Handling 2023
Image: Justin Gare, Senior Objects Conservator demonstrating packing techniques at Art Handling and Packing Workshop workshop held at Artlab Australia presented by Guildhouse.INFORM: Art Packaging and Handling Tuesday 11 July 202310:00am — 12:30pm ACST Pricing: $30...
INFORM: Tax in Real Terms with The Real Thiel 2023
Image: Lauren Thiel. Photograph Katherine Schultz Photography.INFORM: Tax in Real Terms with The Real Thiel Tuesday 23 May 20235:30—8:30pm ACST Pricing: $20 for Guildhouse financial members / $40 for non members, plus booking fees Location: The Wyatt Trust, 161 Frome...
Selling Your Work Online
Image: Courtesy of Upsplash.INFORM: Promoting & Selling Your Work Online Monday 24 April 20235:30 — 8:30pm Pricing: $50 for Guildhouse financial members (Accredited/Community) or $70 for non members, plus booking fees Location: The Wyatt Trust161 Frome Street,...
Images (L-R): INFORM: Brave New World, 2019. Photograph Rosina Possingham; INFORM: Brave New World, 2019. Photograph Rosina Possingham; INFORM: Brave New World, 2019. Photograph Rosina Possingham; Guildhouse Symposium: From Studio to Gallery, 2019. Photograph Rosina Possingham; INFORM: Arts Grants – Funding your creative practice, 2018. Photograph Elliot Oakes; INFORM: Brave New World, 2019. Photograph Rosina Possingham; INFORM: Packaging Art Object for Travel and Storage with Artlab Australia, 2016. Image courtesy Artlab.