Mindshift – Professional Development for Published Authors What type of funding and supports are there for writers? Who is eligible for artist tax exemption? How can writers set themselves up as a business? What are the ways to generate alternative sources of income? Sarah Bannan (Arts Council), Jim Doyle (Dublin City Council), Jane O’Hanlon (Poetry Ireland), Gaby Smyth (Gaby Smyth & Co accountants) and others reveal and unpack the mysteries of funding and finances in literature. A must for the enterprising writer. Schedule 9.30am: Centre opens and registration 10.00am–12.00pm: Valerie Bistany, Director of the Irish Writers’ Centre, will facilitate presentations and discussions on the multiple supports and bursaries available to writers, and how the writer can best avail of them. Ray Yeates will give a presentation on Arts Office supports available to artists, making note of those supports that are of particular interest to writers as well as highlighting some successful projects to date. Sarah Bannan will outline the Arts Council’s supports for individual writers and illustrators, including who and what we fund, how to apply for awards and how writers and illustrators can connect with the literary sector in order to support their practice and get their work to the widest possible audience. Jane O'Hanlon will look at some of the issues and opportunities involved  in working with children and young people. 12.00pm–1.00pm: Break for lunch 1.00pm–2.00pm: The award-winning and internationally published writer Mia Gallagher will use her experiences to talk about the nuts and bolts of residencies from a writer’s point of view, including: researching what’s available, understanding different types of residency, their costs and benefits; applying for residencies (including letter, interview & shortlisting process) & learning from unsuccessful applications; and making the most out of a residency once you receive one. 2.00pm–4.00pm: Gaby Smyth is a professional accountant with a wealth of experience working with individual artists and arts organizations. He will go into the nitty gritty of managing all aspects of tax and finances. With the professional writer in mind, he will cover in detail areas including book-keeping; income tax and levies; the ins and outs of the artist exemption scheme; tax rates and bands; and all elements of VAT relating to the writer. All seminars will leave plenty of time for Q&A. €50/€60 IWC members Booking: www.irishwriterscentre.ie or 01 872 1302