Resources & Guidelines
Since we launched the artist in residence programme in 2012, the culture of working with artists across the university has flourished. In addition to the residency programme, researchers and academics engage with artists independently in creative research practices, collaborative proposal development and commissioning work . If you are a UCD researcher or staff member interested in working with an artist these links will provide useful guidelines on pay rates for visual artists and principles for sustainable art practices.
For more information contact Emer O Boyle at emer.oboyle@ucd.ie
Visual Artists Payment Guidelines
Visual Artists Ireland (VAI) is the representative body for professional visual artists in Ireland. VAI has campaigned on
and published research relating to artists’ pay and terms of engagement in the visual arts sector.
The following guidelines were drawn up to enable venues and artists to calculate equitable levels of payments, properly budget for their programmes and for the variety of work that professional artists undertake in not for profit spaces.
The figures provided are an indicator of the level of payment you should budget for in your projects. What will be paid for and the level of fees should be made clear in initial correspondence; contracts; and any advertising that takes place.
Visual Artists Ireland - Artists Payment Guidelines
https://visualartists.ie
Permaculture Principles for
Sustainable Art Practices
Permaculture is a design framework that seeks to create sustainable human environments by working with, rather than against, natural ecosystems.
Co-originated by David Holmgren and Bill Mollison in the 1970s, permaculture principles encourage the ethical integration of landscape, people, and resources. At its core, permaculture is guided by three ethics:
- Earth Care – Nurture and restore natural systems.
- People Care – Support and empower individuals and communities.
- Fair Share (or Return of Surplus) – Reinvest surpluses back into the system to support Earth Care and People Care.
Building on these ethics, David Holmgren articulated 12 design principles that can be applied to diverse contexts, from art works to creative research practice, household gardens, large-scale farms, community projects and even social and economic systems .
1. Observe and Interact
Before making any intervention, take time to observe the natural and social characteristics of the site. By understanding local conditions—such as microclimates, wildlife patterns, water flows, and community relationships—design decisions can be tailored to what is already present.
2. Catch and Store Energy
This principle focuses on harnessing and retaining resources (energy) for future use. Energy can be sunlight, water, biomass, or even social/cultural energy. By capturing such resources, systems become more resilient.
3. Obtain a Yield
Systems must produce something beneficial (food, energy, income, social capital) or they risk being unsustainable. Ensuring a yield is about creating tangible returns that motivate continued stewardship.
4. Apply Self-Regulation and Accept Feedback
Encourage systems to self-regulate by creating feedback loops. Observing results—whether successful or problematic—and making adjustments helps maintain balance without heavy external inputs.
5. Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services
Choose sources of energy, materials, and services that regenerate naturally. This conserves non-renewable resources and decreases environmental footprint.
6. Produce No Waste
Waste, as often seen in linear systems, is not a concept in nature—everything is a resource in the right context. Designing to minimize waste means finding creative ways to reuse, recycle, or repurpose outputs.
7. Design From Patterns to Details
First identify overarching patterns—land contours, climate zones, social structures—and then refine details. This ensures a holistic approach rather than a fragmented one.
8. Integrate Rather Than Segregate
Encourage beneficial relationships by placing elements in mutual support. Just as natural ecosystems interconnect species for resilience, permaculture systems integrate plants, animals, and people.
9. Use Small and Slow Solutions
Small-scale, incremental approaches are often more sustainable and manageable, reducing the risk of large-scale failure and allowing for gradual improvement over time.
10. Use and Value Diversity
Biological and cultural diversity increases resilience, as multiple species or approaches can fill similar roles, buffering against shocks (e.g., pests, disease, market fluctuations).
11. Use Edges and Value the Marginal
Edges—such as the interface between forest and meadow, or between water and land—often host greater diversity and productivity. Valuing edges expands potential yields and creates micro-habitats.
12. Creatively Use and Respond to Change
Change is inevitable. By anticipating and influencing it, we can harness it as a positive force. Resilience in permaculture comes from proactively adapting rather than reacting.
Are you a UCD researcher or staff member? Interested in working with an artist? We’re here to help!
Let us know what you have in mind and we’ll do our best to help.