I saw this today and wanted to share it:
http://graduatefog.co.uk/2011/1815/cozette-mccreery-sister-by-sibling-fashion-internship/
It’s a funny/deadly serious response to an interview that appeared in Vogue relating to internships. What struck me most was that the designer – who uses interns – defends the fact with the line that it is ‘normal’ in fashion. I think that hits the nail on the head for most internships; people just think it is normal, that they have to work for free to get on, and the plentiful supply of willing volunteers continues.
Forget what’s normal – there IS a minimum wage, it’s taking advantage to have interns for nothing for so long, you don’t have to do it and what’s more, you can write and tell people exactly what’s wrong with the situation so they can’t plead ignorance.
On that note – regarding writing to people to tell them how things could be, I also wanted to share an email an artist sent following an open call.
The artist’s question: is there a fee/production/travel materials project for this open call that requires a site visit and site-specific work?
From the gallery:
Dear artist,
Thank you very much for your enquiry! Unfortunately our project does not have a budget for travel and production of artwork, which we expect the artists themseleves cover the cost. However, we will cover all the installation, techinical support, electricity supply and promotion cost. Please see attached with the full brief to get more information. Hope you will participate in our exhibition!
From the artist:
Hello,
Thank you very much for your response. I was interested to read the project brief; it really does sound like a wonderful project. However, it seems that you are looking for work that responds to the specific site or context (and I prefer to work context-responsively anyway), and I am afraid that without financial support it would be impossible for me to undertake site visits, produce new work for the show and continue to pay my rent and bills! Having worked for cultural and academic organisations in the past, I really do appreciate that budgets are tight; however, contemporary artists do need at least some remuneration for the work that they do and the time that they spend doing it. As an experienced artist and commissioner, I can say that it is not usual for contemporary artists to have to pay for electricity supplies or tech support in venues where they exhibit, and so this is not usually factored in as support in kind.
I wonder if you are aware of the Arts Council’s Grants for the Arts scheme? This scheme enables individuals and organisations from all backgrounds to apply for small-to-medium grants towards engaging artistic projects in England. I have used this scheme myself to enable me to pay artists for their work on various projects, and it is incredibly helpful and accessible. The Arts Council are very keen to support and promote the idea that everybody should be paid for their work; in their view (with which I agree), even the smallest amount of investment produces better artwork – and therefore better outcomes for everybody involved. I am sure that, if you wish to work with contemporary artists in the future, the Arts Council would be very interested to support a project that uses contemporary art to engage people not just with art, but with history, too. Here is a link, which I hope will be helpful to you in the future: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/grants-arts/ Again, it is with regret that I cannot submit a proposal for consideration. I wish you the best of luck and every success with the project.
Perhaps this is a good template to send out next time you find yourself in this situation? Round of applause.
