Talk:Visual Artists Ireland

History section

In regards to the claim by ThatMontrealIP that the following sentence: "Founded in 1980 as the Sculptors’ Society of Ireland, the name was changed in 2005 as they began to include visual artists of all disciplines" failed verification... The 2005 article cited quite clearly states the following in the section 'Shaping a broader vision':

“ The Sculptors' Society of Ireland (SSI) has voted to adopt a new name and will in future be known as Visual Artists Ireland, writes Gerry Smyth. The change was voted in by a substantial majority at a recent emergency general meeting and is part of a rebranding programme. The organisation's membership has increased by 250 per cent over the past three years to its current level of more than 1,100, a rise partly attributable to the demise of the Artists Association of Ireland (AAI), which ceased trading in 2002. The loss of the AAI deprived artists of support and representation.

The name change reflects the broadening of the organisation's membership to include professional visual artists in all disciplines. It is envisaged that Visual Artists Ireland will take on a more pro-active advocacy and lobbying role, and it is currently campaigning for retention of artists' tax exemption.

"Over the past 25 years the SSI has continually responded and adapted to the needs and concerns of artists and has thus remained relevant to its constituency," said SSI chairwoman Therry Rudin. "This new phase of development is rooted in that same commitment to evolve with and engage with the major changes and developments in the landscape of the visual arts sector".

The new initiative will include a web-based information resource for artists, an information and advice inquiry centre, and a programme of national and international representation.

This year the SSI secured an additional €120,000 in funding from the Arts Council, which has been keen to see the re-establishment of a service organisation for visual artists. The new name will be launched by Arts Council member and artist Willie Doherty on November 18th at 7pm in La Catedral (Phoenix Studios), St Augustine Street (off Cornmarket), Dublin 8.

”

Hesperian Nguyen (talk)

It does not mention 1980.ThatMontrealIP (talk) 14:07, 2 January 2020 (UTC)

If you do your maths it does: "Over the past 25 years..." Hesperian Nguyen (talk)

Improvement potential

This is an important player in the Irish arts world, and has made an actual difference, and the article can be grown at least moderately with some digging, including:

• More detailed history - the whole of the Sculptors Society of Ireland, an important body in its own right, should be here, followed by more of the VAI's activities and campaigns
• A little on organisation and perhaps key figuress
• At least See Also:, but perhaps more, on any crossover with other bodies such as the AAI, IVARO, Praxis (the newish artists' trade union), etc.

Additional ideas very welcome! SeoR (talk) 13:05, 30 December 2023 (UTC)