a-n (The Artists Information Company) has compiled a handy information pack detailing what you might need to start out as a new artist. Aimed at recent graduates, it is a practical guide that offers advice and useful resources to get started in the art world.

The guide begins with the importance of the web as a promotional tool for your work. Artist, Ellie Harrison provides an interesting Case Study on what makes her website unique. This section also looks at the pros and cons of blogging.

It then goes onto the options and roles available to emerging artists. This section covers postgraduate study, studying abroad, working with the public, getting a studio and residencies. Make sure to check out Manifold’s Q&A on setting up their East London studio here and applying for funding and opportunities here.

The age old dilemma of pricing your work is addressed here along with some copyrighting advice. New artists are also advised to keep asking yourself questions and to create/lead your own activities. Take a look at Kevin Hunt’s Artist-Led Hot 100 which lists some of the most superb activity being facilitated by emerging independent artists and curators right now in the UK.

A comprehensive directory of useful resources can be found here. And finally, an introduction to the one thing that makes it all official: Becoming Self Employed.

More: Website | Twitter

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Look here for more blogs.

With this year’s a-n Degree Shows Guide, guide editor Chris Sharratt and designer Alan Ward of Axis Design have tried to reflect a little of the energy and anticipation of this time, both for the graduating students and the rest of us. The guide also looks to the future and what happens next, once the shows are over and the real world beckons. There are tips on life after graduation, but also advice on buying work at degree shows.

Francis McKee, director of the Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow, offers his take on the wider significance of the degree show, and we talk to four a-n Degrees unedited student bloggers about their work and shows. Elsewhere, Northern Art Prize winner Leo Fitzmaurice picks his top three a-n student blogs, and four established artists – Michael Fullerton, Emily Wardill, Rachel Goodyear and Phoebe Cummings – talk about their first steps after graduating. And of course, there’s a wealth of information about degree shows the length and breadth of the UK.

Did we say we had a spring in our step? We’re positively bouncing…

Find a-n Degree Shows Guide 2012 here.
Read more about a-n and their projects here.

Also found another one over at British University Artists.

(via the #degreeshows tag on Twitter.)

The more exposure the better when it comes to Degree Shows.

• If you’re on Twitter use the #degreeshows hash tag to tie in with both CentSta and a-n’s conversations in and around degree shows.
Follow @CenSta

Follow @degreesunedited

• Check out a-n’s 2011 Degrees publication with adverts for degree shows around the UK, plus commissioned articles from new graduates and student blogger interviews.
Take a closer look at the publication
Search by region degree shows listings

• a-n opportunities for graduating artists and new writers:
a-n Magazine cover recommendations – get an image of your work in print
Upload degree show reviews to a-n’s sites plus selected reviews will appear in a-n Magazine Jul/Aug issue – Get your writing published

• PLUS – are you a final year student? Get a-n’s free twelve-month student subscription and maintain support and resources through Students community – tinyurl.com/a-n-students-resources

Bloggers featured on the cover of 2011 Degrees:
Moopsy Archer »
Rob Jones »
Alice Lynch »
Natalia Komis »
Ian Robinson »

you’ll most likely be sidestepping some poor paint splattered zombies

who are going through a self-absorbed personal ‘hell’ which seems

of the utmost importance to themselves and which no-one else

can quite understand. They don’t have any reserves of time, energy

or money left, but somehow, although completely spent, they’ll be

cadging one last pint before staggering back to the studio for an all-nighter.

Yes, you have to hand it to art school tutors, unsung heroes of the

degree show hour – buy them a drink, somebody.

So, assuming we won’t hear from many of them, it’s down to

the students to get on with it, shout about themselves and provide

a bit of support for each other into the bargain.

This year Central Station will again be promoting, featuring and discussing

the events, shows, students, and their work. We’ll have a few exclusive

previews too, alongside great content from a-n’s ‘Degrees Unedited’,

which reviews shows and interviews graduates across the UK.

So, now is the time to tell us what you’re doing – showcase your finest portfolio pieces, blog updates on your ridiculously
complicated installation, your hopes and fears, shout outs for support and
sponsorship, even a mention of your helpers and tutors.

If you’re on Twitter, join in the discussion with CenSta

and a-n with the #degreeshows tag. Good luck everyone.

—–

ps if you’re looking for some inspiration from last year, you can explore 2010

Degree Show here.