AI chatbot aims to make your workplace safer

Image of Co-founders of the SaferSpace chatbot
06 Mar 2024

Ruth Sparkes is co-founder of SaferSpace, a tech-for-good company trying to address unacceptable behaviour in the workplace. To mark International Women's Day, she has released a free AI chatbot.

Arts roles feature in proposed changes to work visa rules

05 Mar 2024

A series of arts positions will be included in government list that allows a lower salary threshold for creatives seeking to move to the UK under a skilled work visa.

EXCLUSIVE: ACE seeks costs over failed race discrimination case

Speech Debelle, real name Corynne Elliot, performing at a music concert
29 Feb 2024

Arts Council England is pursuing Mercury Prize winning musician Speech Debelle for around £100,000 in legal costs.

Do you have an employee Health and Wellbeing policy?

28 Feb 2024

Leading a team producing a demanding festival in a challenging environment, Catherine Groom thinks developing and formalising a health and wellbeing policy is essential.

Former ArtsEd teacher launches unfair dismissal claim

ArtsEd building exterior
14 Feb 2024

A tribunal has heard that a former teacher at ArtsEd claimed there was a “culture of fear” at the school and raised concerns over leadership.

Improved redundancy offer for backstage ENO workers

The London Coliseum, the current home of English National Opera
06 Feb 2024

Backstage workers at English National Opera receive revised redundancy offer, which trade union Bectu is encouraging them to accept.

Survey to review pay transparency for live music freelancers

05 Feb 2024

Music sector body LIVE has launched a survey to understand and identify changes required to improve the experience of freelancers working in the live music industry.

The Hidden Side of Freelancing will explore pay transparency and the personal experiences of freelancers at live music events. 

It can be completed anonymously. The results will be assessed, then used in a publicly available report to be published in April 2024.

“This survey will give freelancers in our industry the information needed to get the most out of the work they do and help to deliver impact change for every freelancer and the organisations that rely on freelance talent,” said LIVE CEO Jon Collins.

Technical Production Manager Paul Jones says one of the biggest single questions raised on the Live Event Freelancers Forum is about wages and pay rates.

“This survey gives every live event freelancer a chance to give accurate and honest information, and anonymously if need be. 

“There has never been more of a need to gain accurate information on pay and conditions for the freelance community so we can gather valuable insight and help shape the future of our sector and industry well into the future.

“If you are a freelancer in the live sector, you should not ignore this survey. It should be one of the most important things you do in 2024. It's your industry, let’s make a difference.”

The survey will close on 23 February.

Performing arts workers facing ‘significant' childcare challenges

09 Jan 2024

A 'culture of silence' exists when it comes to discussing childcare issues in the performing arts sector, according to mothers interviewed as part of new research.

Museum Wales’ £325k payoff ‘least-worst outcome’

06 Dec 2023

Senior civil servants have defended their handling of an employment dispute that resulted in a payout of over £325k to the former Director General of Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales - and legal costs of £420k.

On 30 November, the Senedd’s Public Accounts Committee heard from Andrew Slade, the Welsh Government’s Director General for  Economy, Skills and Natural Resources, who described the costs as reasonable, representing the “least-worst outcome” for taxpayers.

Asked whether the payment and fees provided value for money, Slade said that an employment tribunal would have taken about two years to resolve the issue, with the outcome potentially subject to appeal.

Labour MS Rhianon Passmore noted that a tribunal could have incurred significantly higher costs of £1.2m to £1.8m. 

The payout followed a longstanding employment dispute between the museum’s former Director General, David Anderson, and former President Roger Lewis, in which Anderson brought grievances against Lewis for bullying and discriminatory treatment. 

Under the terms of the settlement, Amgueddfa Cymru agreed to make Anderson, who stepped down in November last year,  payments of more than £325k.

A further settlement of £12k went to the former Chief Operating Officer, who also bought a grievance against Lewis, with total legal fees estimated at £420k.

During the committee hearing, Passmore asked why mediation did not occur for eight months after concerns were first flagged in the spring of 2021 following Lewis’s annual review. Slade responded that the government did not have a process in place to deal with a breakdown of relations between senior museum leaders.

In October, an auditor responsible for overseeing public spending in Wales raised concerns that the settlement may not have complied with the requirements of charity law.

Amgueddfa Cymru said in a statement that while it respects the Auditor General’s opinion, “some of the evidence provided has not been reflected in the report” and that “as a result, we do not feel it a fair representation of the events that occurred or fully considers the complicated circumstances which [we] had to resolve.
 

ACE facing two further employment tribunals

Arts Council England offices in Manchester
06 Dec 2023

Funder has already faced two employment tribunals this year, one of which was dismissed with the other partially upheld.

Creative UK launches anti-bullying resource

04 Dec 2023

Creative UK has unveiled a bullying and harassment resource designed to help improve and professionalise behaviours across the creative industries.
 
‘It’s NOT OK’ is a free-to-use e-learning module that aims to inform workers in the arts sector about prevalent behavioural issues and offer guidance on how to seek help.

The project follows a series of industry roundtables with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), representatives from film and television, music, advertising, games, publishing, theatre and fashion along with key unions, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), and people with lived experience of bullying, harassment and discrimination.  

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: "I've heard first-hand this week about the serious impact bullying and harassment can have.

"It is never acceptable, and the creative industries must leave no stone unturned in making sure that people feel they can contribute their skills in a safe and supportive environment. Giving them the tools and training to call out inappropriate behaviour is an important step forward in achieving that." 

Lowry invests in mental health support

04 Dec 2023

The Lowry has invested in a wellbeing service to provide mental health support for its 650 staff.

The Manchester venue has signed up for a wellbeing streaming service provided by Frog Systems to give staff access to expert videos, podcasts, films and digital resources around wellbeing as well as a directory of support organisations in the UK.

The Lowry said the streaming service will sit alongside an in-house counselling service and an employee engagement platform to "provide an holistic package of freely available support that staff and volunteers".

“It’s so important we continue to do all we can to support the mental health and wellbeing of our staff and volunteers,” said Julia Fawcett, CEO of The Lowry.

Phil Worms, CEO of Frog Systems, said: “It’s been a tough time for the arts in general in recent years and The Lowry has not been immune.

"We are delighted to support the staff and volunteers who are in turn helping The Lowry to brighten the lives of so many others in the wider community.”

A guide to random selection

Tombola for random selection
04 Dec 2023

An ancient practice of balloting is being put to use in application processes with the twin aims of reducing unpaid labour and increasing fairness, writes Martin O’Leary.

RSA unfairly sacked employee over union claims

09 Nov 2023

The Royal Society of Arts (RSA) unfairly dismissed an employee who spoke to the press about the organisation's refusal to recognise the staff trade union, an employment tribunal has found.

In a ruling delivered last month, which has been recently published, a judge found that Ruth Hannon had been unfairly dismissed by the RSA on grounds related to her trade union membership and was awarded her £6,959 in compensation.

Hannon was let go from her contract at RSA the day after she was quoted in The Obervor of accusing the RSA of hypocrisy because it had repeatedly refused to recognise the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which almost half its staff had joined.

In the article, the former Head of Policy and Participation at RSA noted that contrary to its stance within its organisation, RSA had publicly praised IWGB and given them an award for unionising workers in the gig economy.

Her termination letter, which ended her employment a week early, claimed Hannon had made “unauthorised, misleading and potentially damaging statements”. An active member of IWGB, Hannon brought a claim against RSA for detriment for engaging in trade union activity.

IWG members at the RSA staged strike action in September after rejecting a £1,000 pay rise for all staff.

The IWGB said: “Ruth’s legal victory has only strengthened our members’ resolve to win the ongoing pay dispute and has given them confidence and energy to transform the RSA into an organisation that respects and values their work.”

In a statement to Morning Star, an RSA spokesperson said: “We respect, but are extremely disappointed, by the tribunal’s judgment given the facts of this case and we reserve our right to appeal it."

Performing arts: 35,000 jobs losses since pandemic

two drama students rehearse on a stage
06 Nov 2023

'Alarming' figures show huge fall in job roles within performing and visual arts.

Judge exonerates ACE over race discrimination claim

Employment tribunal documents, notepad and glasses
17 Oct 2023

Employment tribunal finds no grounds for claims by former Relationship Manager that she was harassed and persecuted by colleagues over the course of her employment. 

ACE 'institutionally racist', former employee claims

Corynne Elliot performing on stage as Speech Debelle
12 Oct 2023

Award-winning musician Speech Debelle says there was a 'campaign' against her during her time as a Relationship Manager at Arts Council England, but organisation refutes her 'distorted' interpretation of events.

ACE commissions research to 'give freelancers a voice'

10 Oct 2023

Freelancers in England's creative and cultural sectors are being invited to participate in research carried out on behalf of Arts Council England (ACE).

Academics from University of Essex Business School and East 15 Acting School are conducting the research that will help ACE “build a picture of the freelance workforce in all the disciplines it supports”.

The first stage of the research is a survey asking current freelancers, or those who have freelanced in the past, to share their experiences of working in combined arts, dance, literature, libraries, museums, music, theatre and the visual arts.

The survey is open for responses until 31 October.

Project leader, Professor Melissa Tyler, said researchers “want to use this project to give freelancers a voice”.

“We are delighted to be leading this survey and research project which will help shape Arts Council England’s policy and planning for the next three years, making sure that support is targeted where it is most needed.”

Michelle Dickson, ACE Director, Strategy, said that, by taking part in the survey, freelancers “will be helping us to understand the opportunities and challenges that they are facing”.

“[This] will help us at the Arts Council develop better policies and advocate for a fairer and more sustainable future for workers across the cultural sector.”

Creative sector regulator secures funding for launch

A woman with black hair applies makeup to a woman sitting down with her eyes closed
04 Oct 2023

Regulatory body will launch by the end of next year, providing advice and support to people working in film, television, music and theatre who are suffering abuse, harassment or bullying.

Arts Marketing Association to trial four-day week

03 Oct 2023

Arts Marketing Association (AMA) is trialling a four-day working week.

The trial, which began yesterday (2 October) and will run until the end of March 2024, will see the remote working organisation adopt a standardised Monday to Thursday, while retaining flexibility for staff to adjust their working pattern and days accordingly.

Full time AMA staff members will reduce their hours from 40 to 32 per week during the trail, with no reduction in salary.

The announcement sees the organisation become the latest in the cultural sector to adopt the working pattern, following in the footsteps of organisations such as Flatpack Festival and 64 Million Artists.

AMA Head of Operations and Events, Danielle Patrick, said equity was a big factor in the move.

“Typically, women take on more unpaid work outside of their paid working hours. At the AMA, we have a majority female team, so this helps to redress that balance," Patrick said.

"It gives staff more free time for leisure, supports those with children or other caring responsibilities, and benefits those with long-term health conditions.

“We’d like to thank Flatpack Festival for being so generous in sharing their experiences with us, and 64 Million Artists for being a source of inspiration.”

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