These 1-2-1 surgeries are for artists who want to chat about their work, or receive critical and practical advice such as funding application feedback with CCA’s Director Catherine Hemelryk. This opportunity is for artists in their early stage of their career. We will have four slots available on Wednesdays 30 July and 3 September 2025, 2–4pm with each lasting for 25 minutes.

Booking available on our online shop: CCADLD.org/shop

For any further information, contact us on supports@ccadld.org.

While CCA is changing exhibitions artists can use the gallery spaces to document work. The next available time slot for this is: 15–20 September 2025.

To book in email info@ccadld.org.

CCA Supports provides application feedback sessions for artists. These will offer artists two hours of bespoke support for artists making applications that might require a range of material, such as CVs, artist statements, proposals, budgets, and support material. This opportunity is for artists who are not currently in any type of formal education who have begun their professional practice. These feedback sessions are for those based in or from the north of Ireland, with 2-hour sessions available for artists.

Whilst each artist and application will be different, the two hour slots could be broken down across two sessions as follows:

• 30 minutes of initial reading, followed by 30 minutes of discussion between artist and reviewer

• Then, some days later, 30 minutes of final reading and 30 minutes of further feedback

To book:

Please email Laura on supports@ccadld.org to book your slot. These will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis, so artists are advised to plan in advance. It is imagined that the feedback sessions will take place via Zoom, however, we will make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate access requirements.

Access:

We welcome and encourage applications from artists from marginalised backgrounds.

Should the artist and reviewer agree to meet in person, CCA Supports can support travel costs and any access requirements such as childcare. Applicants with access requirements applying for opportunities are warmly invited to email Laura on supports@ccadld.org to let us know of any access requirements you may have to reduce any barriers in making your application or participating in the programme.

Surgeries:

1-to-1 surgeries with CCA Director Catherine Hemelryk are also available for artists who want to chat about their work outside application feedback, or receive critical and practical advice. Booking information is available below, with dates updated quarterly.

If you work in the arts and are currently completing your self-assessment tax return for HMRC, CCA has a limited number of desks you can book to use to do your tax return. CCA Director Catherine Hemelryk will be on hand to answer any questions you may have as you go through your tax return. The sessions will take place in January 2026. Check back for dates closer to the time.

Book a two-hour slot at a desk by emailing info@ccadld.org with the subject heading 2025 TAX DESK with your preferred start time.

From time to time CCA runs training workshops.

Here is a series of workshops from the archive from 2023–25 supported by Jerwood Foundation. They cover a range of topics that aim to support artists' careers.

An Introduction to Art Handling with Corrie Masson, MA Conservation of Fine Art

AV Set Up For Install with Paul Moore

Woodwork for Install with Peter Glasgow

How to write about work: Your own, and that of others with Cecelia Graham

Writing Sustainability Plans and Statements with Shane Malone-Murphy

Safeguarding: Keeping Children and Adults Safe with Roisin Timlin

1: Woodwork for install: Woodwork & Joinery courses.
Watch out for courses becoming available at:

South Eastern Regional College: Woodwork Introduction Students will be encouraged to design and work on projects of their own choice. This course is a beginners course in which students will develop basic Carpentry and Joinery skills. More info here.

North West Regional College, Northern Ireland: Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations (Site Carpentry). More info here.

South Regional College, Northern Ireland: Carpentry and joinery Level 2 Traineeship. More info here.

Northern Regional College, Northern Ireland: Carpentry and Joinery Classes. More info here.

Joinery Courses at Rutledge, Northern Ireland: More info here.

2: Tax advice:
Tax and Self-employment - Northern Ireland. More info here.

VAI Webinar: An Artist's Guide to Tax Tuesday 18 June 2024 11am–12.30pm. More info here.

You can book a one-to-one Surgery with Catherine Hemelryk through CCA’s Online Shop here.

3: Art Handling:
Basic principles of Art Handling: VAI guide

Click here for a .docx of a template invoice for your own use. If you need the sample invoice in another format, email us on info@ccadld.org.

An access rider is a document that outlines your disability access needs.

You might make one so that you can give it to galleries/institutions/organisations when you start working with them on a project, such as a gallery you’re doing a show at for example, to let them know what your limitations and requirements are to make sure you have equal access to work. You can find more details on what access riders are and what to include in your own here.

Download your template for creating an access rider created by Disability Arts Online here.

If you are a D/deaf and/or disabled artist making applications, please contact University of Atypical, the disability- and artist-led sector-support body who offer advice sessions and a range of access supports for D/deaf or disabled artists.

Artquest

Artquest offer an introduction to websites and social networks here, which outlines their choices for the best platforms for artists across a range of website providers, media platforms, blogs and social media options. Artquest also have a separate guide to e-newsletters, which includes how and when to use them, and information on GDPR - how you store and use subscribers’ personal data. They also point out the significance of good quality images in sharing your work online.

Visual Artists Ireland (VAI)

VAI offer a list of website designers, as well as some options for creating your own site. VAI also have excellent resources on step-by-step technical guides to documenting your work, including the equipment that you will need and techniques to consider. VAI members can also access a wide range of webinars, including:

• What Makes a Good Artist Website?

• Navigating the Art World as an Artist Online

• How to Make Video Content for Social Media with a Mobile Phone

• Communicating Your Practice Online

• Digital Marketing for Artists – Reaching Your Audience

• Making an Impact on Social Media

• Sustaining Your Practice; a practical guide to staying connected and visible online

Volunteering North West are putting people in touch with local organisations who are working collectively to ensure that the most vulnerable are supported. Visit their website to sign up.

CCA Volunteering opportunities are listed on our Opportunities page.

A Discretionary Support self-isolation grant is available for freelancers isolating.

You may be able to get a Discretionary Support self-isolation grant to help with the cost of living (for example, to buy food, toiletries or cleaning materials or to top up your fuel meter) if, you or any member of your immediate family has either been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are self-isolating in line with the latest guidance published by the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being.

Full details at nidirect.gov.uk

The cost of living crisis is continuing. A series of measures are available for support with domestic energy and more. For information including links for individuals, families, universal credit and more visit nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/cost-living

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) offers support and financial help so you can do suitable work if you are able to. It gives you access to a Work Coach and services including employment, training and condition management support to help you manage your illness or disability at work.

You may be able to claim ESA if any of the following apply:

• your Statutory Sick Pay has ended or you can't get it
• you're employed, self-employed, unemployed or a student on Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment
• you've been getting Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and have not gone back to work for your employer because you've an illness or disability which affects your ability to work
• you are under State Pension age
• you are not getting Jobseeker’s Allowance

Click here for full details and how to apply for ESA.

You will find the most current information from ACNI on advice and support, funding schemes, etc can be found here.

The details and deadlines for live funding schemes can be found here.

Find advice for managing your money. This includes budgeting advice and debt support.

gov.uk/cost-of-living

Visual Artists Ireland is the Representative body for professional visual artists in Ireland and Northern Ireland. VAI research has identified: Isolation; a Need for Support; and a Need for Information as the three primary areas of concern for visual artists.

You can find full listings of their events both in person and online at their website visualartists.ie.

Visual Arts Ireland has compiled an information page that covers advice on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) scheme here.

Up-to-date details for funding opportunities for individuals and organisations are available here.

For the latest Culture Ireland grants, click here.

A summary of the Cost of Living Crisis support available is listed at citizensinformation.ie.

CCA Supports is made possible with funding from Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Derry City & Strabane District Council and Jerwood Foundation.

Header image: Ciarán Ó Dochartaigh, Ferox, 2022