Publications
Current and archived a-n publications
Subscriber resource
Free labour in the arts
The issue of free labour in the arts received much-needed publicity in November, when a Reading Employment Tribunal ruled expenses-only pay was illegal.
Nicola Vetta worked on an expenses-only basis for London Dream Motion Pictures Ltd and brought the case. She said of the ruling, "This practice seems to be increasingly common. Working for free is becoming accepted as a necessary investment to securing a paid job. I hope that publicising this case will help to reverse that trend." Her case was supported by BECTU. The idea that doing voluntary work is necessary seemed to be true for some young graduates attending 'Spotlight on Working for Free in the Arts', a seminar in Manchester organised by PANDA (Performing Arts Network & Development Agency), Contact and Redeye photography network in December. Several recent graduates, including a panel member, said they felt they needed to work for free in order to get paid work. Two had been doing this for over a year. Speakers included panel chair and head of PANDA Anne-Marie Crowther, photographer and Redeye Director Paul Herrmann, former arts volunteer and PANDA placement holder Holly Ball, actor and North West Equity Branch Chair David Corden and Manchester Academy tutor and a CCS (Cultural and Creative Skills Council) Board Member Rose Durbin. The consensus on the panel however was...
. . . to read the rest of this resource
and access all Knowledge Bank and Publication articles click here » to subscribe online - from only £6.
If you are a subscriber please login here.