Voluntary Arts Network | 
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The development agency for the voluntary arts Voluntary Arts Network aims to promote participation in the arts and crafts across the UK and Republic of Ireland. We recognise that they are a key part of our culture and as such they are absolutely vital to our health, social and economic development. Over half the UK adult population is involved in the voluntary arts and crafts - those arts and crafts that people undertake for self-improvement, social networking and leisure, but not primarily for payment. They are wide-ranging and include folk, dance, drama, literature, media, music, visual arts, crafts and applied arts, and festivals.
Click here for information on the Edinburgh Fringe.
Voluntary Arts Photo Gallery We have set up an online gallery in order to display photographs of voluntary arts groups. This is a great way to advertise your organisation, showcasing who you are, what you do and how you do it! The idea is to raise the profile of your organisation and keep up-to-date with what other arts groups are doing.
Taking part in the gallery is easy. Simply click on the link on the left-hand side of this page for more information and a step-by-step guide on submitting your images. We do the actual task of uploading your images onto the gallery and you have total control over the level of copyright and licensing on your images.
This is all explained further in the Voluntary Arts Online Gallery section of our website. We look forward to taking a look at your photos! | 
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Sign up to the new-look VAN e-news The VAN e-news has been redesigned! We have taken into account all the feedback we have received over the past year to create the new design. If you are a regular VAN news subscriber, let us know what you think by emailing info@voluntaryarts.org. If you have recently stopped receiving the e-news, please check your spam folder in case the new design has been identified incorrectly.
If you have not yet signed up for the e-news, do so today at www.voluntaryarts.org/news. The VAN websibe also now features RSS feeds for users who wish to subscribe to news, jobs, funding, events and training items - click here for more information and to subscribe. | 
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How can we help you? Use our new Google search to find what you are looking for from the vast resources of this website:
Running Your Group Running Your Group has been re-launched with up-to-date information and signposting designed to answer the most common questions people have when setting up and running a voluntary arts group. The project now features a new interactive element - at the bottom of each page is an electronic form for you to add your own experiences, flag up useful information or report broken links. | 
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To start accessing and contributing to the project, go to the Running Your Group section.
Read the latest VAN briefings 126 – Engaging with freelancers
Whatever your art or craft form, this briefing is designed to help you think through the process of hiring a freelance artist or facilitator. Appointing a freelancer can be a great opportunity to bring a fresh perspective to your group - one that can have lasting positive benefits.
127 - Working with groups of other art or craft forms
Many voluntary arts groups are part of well-established ‘communities of interest’ – they have strong links with other groups practising the same art or craft form as they are. However, groups may be less aware of the multitude of other art and craft forms that are out there. This briefing highlights some of the main reasons your group might choose to work with groups of other art and craft forms.
127x - Understanding and creating accessible PDFs
This supplementary briefing is an introduction to the issues faced by disabled users in accessing and using PDF documents. It contains practical information about creating accessible PDFs using two common word processing packages - OpenOffice Writer and Microsoft Word. It also provides some basic information about professional packages and how to commission accessible PDFs from designers.
To read past briefings, visit our VAN briefings page.
Did you know we are on Facebook? This group has been set up to encourage networking and discussion on issues affecting the voluntary arts sector, using this popular social networking facility. | 
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The Voluntary Arts Network is a member of the Community Sector Coalition.
The Voluntary Arts Network (VAN) is registered in Scotland as Company No.139147 and Charity No.SC 020345. VAN acknowledges funding from the Arts Councils of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. | 
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