Arts Council England designated 2000/2001 "Year of the Artist", with a focus on individual creators and makers. It was the culmination of a ten-year programme designated to promote individual art forms such as dance and literature. 1 000 artists benefited from a range of commissions and residencies. The total budget for the Year of the Artist was about GBP 3.5 million.

In 2000, a report (The Creative Imperative) was commissioned by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and The Irish Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaion to provide benchmark information about the impact of existing programmes of support for artists by the two Arts Councils and to make recommendations about future support of the individual artist. Among its many conclusions were that consideration be given to multi-annual grants; that training in business, financial and marketing skills be made available, and that there should be procedures for regular monitoring of the impact of the awards and for periodic review.

In Northern Ireland, the Arts Council in its five-year arts plan has given priority to extend opportunities for artists to develop their work and practice. Opportunities are available for commissioning new work across all art forms. In addition, a dedicated special funding programme has introduced new opportunities for artists to work on specific projects, for example, in the community, to pursue international opportunities or personal artistic development.

Source: Council of Europe/ERICarts, "Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe, 8th edition", 2007

Useful contacts:

• Visiting Arts (www.visitingarts.org.uk/) 
  Visiting Arts is promoting the flow of international arts into the UK and developing related cultural links abroad. Activities include advice, information, training, consultancy, publications, special projects and project development. The website covers the performing arts, visual, applied and media arts, crafts, design, literature, film, and architecture. Their interests span all regions of the world but they are particularly specialized and active in relation to East, Central Europe and the former Soviet Union, East and South East Asia, South Asia, Africa and Islamic countries.
  They have a guide about: Work Permit ; Visas ; Entry Clearance ; Leave to enter the UK ; Tax ; Insurance and medical services; Carnets for equipment, sets, props, etc.