We are creative UK - redesigning freelancers

- Often fighting institutions and orgs to pay freelancers more: this is a battle. There is a mentality within certain organisations of 'we'll pay them less and they'll do it'
- Do freelancers return to work even when lower rates are being paid?
- Joining unions is a way forwards - from here you can negotiate pay rises, but even so, pay rises are incremental
- There is power + solidarity in dialogue between freelancers
- DCW = branch of united voices of the world
- Cross-union solidarity and communication is essential
- Need to raise demands as pay for skilled practitioners is awful
- Codes of care = also essential. But there is a fear of being seen as difficult for having this, because it isn't common place.
- Mailing lists to coordinate and notify people of opportunities
- We want a union that is a bit punk (the DWC is an option here)
- The white pube = publish examples of successful funding applications
- Language, expertise, knowledge and time are all necessary for writing successful applications
- Making some demands (these can be known as kind demands)
- There is a tweet that breaks down the costings of time and fees - useful point of reference (author of tweet not remembered!!)
- Also need to factor in sick pay to fees
- Changing the language around minimum rates of pay: "minimum = minimum"
- Tash Hyman and Beth Watson: the job juggling report. Creative Taskforce.
- Freelancers need to consent to the continued use of a product produced for a one-off fee (or this is at least negotiated and consented to)
- ACE knocking back proposed rates in individuals grant application
- Need to think about "good" practice of orgs who get it right and incorporate this into any manifesto writing. Spare Tyre as an e.g. of an organisation that do this well
- Look at what organisations have done and not what they're doing
- Food & drinks are always welcome! (As part of freelance contracts/agreements)
- Everyone (freelancers working on projects) should always get their own room if touring or traveling for work; no one should be booked into accommodation that you yourself wouldn't stay in
- A caring/nurturing figure to look after this stuff - a "welfare dramaturg"
- An access worker in the rooms always?
- No unpaid meetings
- First meeting = free, after that, this is how much meetings will cost, this is how much my time is. "Half an hour of my brain for free, after which you're paying"
- Producing and Touring network - their templates for riders (Access riders, antiracist riders, etc)
- How do we get relationships between freelancers and organisations, venues, other groups in the sector, etc, to flourish? What do we need? How do we sustain relationships with the places and people we work with? One idea = fuck emails. Admin has been created for no reason. Can we do things on the phone? Pick up the phone and talk to someone? Because this humanises everything and everyone. Keep a list/spreadsheet of great people that you've worked with. Need to stop and celebrate together when things go well.
- Mailing lists to join: ArtsAdmin, Arts Jobs, Participatory Arts London, Producers Network on FB.
- Tell institutions/organisations: 'this is actually quite a low rate' and ask them if they've spoken to their other freelancers about rates of pay. Tell them that their rates are out of date. Gives employees within these organisations evidence to ask their bosses for more to pay freelancers with.