Freelancers vs paid/salaried staff in the arts: how do we alter the balance?

I was having a conversation last week with a client & colleague (who is freelance too) about the perception and feeling in the arts & culture sector, that freelancers are somehow less valued or less important than other folks, namely those that have the security and stability of salaried jobs in the arts sector. This has come up time and again in my work - sometimes with venues, partners, friends and colleagues (most of whom are employed - some have even told me they’re scared of the word ‘freelance’), and, sometimes ACE itself.

This shouldn’t be the case, but sadly, it is the norm.

It disappoints me that it’s heralded that if you work for an organisation, in a salaried role, no matter what the level or expertise that role requires, it is the holy grail.

Now, as someone who has walked the walk - having worked in various salaried roles at senior level throughout my career, and since then CHOSEN, yes you read that correctly, CHOSEN to go freelance, this really gets to me. Whilst a whole heap of experience, knowledge, wisdom & (I hope) a track record (over 16 years to be exact, 3 of which as a freelancer)… why oh why am I looked down on?

The balance drastically needs to shift.

This is a conversation which keeps coming up. Tonnes of data backs this up. I’ve been a part of some and led some research, even. You can see my work together with Midlands Dance Producing Collective on my wonderful peer Vanessa Oxspring’s website - another freelancer - from 2021 here. Organisations still scratch their heads around working with freelancers and conduct yet more research into freelancers needs….

Here’s what we need: not to be treated like lesser equals.

Don’t even get me started about pay.

There’s a great deal I could talk about when it comes to pay, however it deserves it’s own blog post! For now, I’m going to introduce a mindset thing. A mindset that I adopt and one that I encourage other freelancers too - see your work as a business. You are a business.

Anyhow.

Freelancers need a seat at the table, and our voices need to be heard. Organisations should consider working with us or invite us onto their boards and here’s critical part, pay us to do so. Rather than following the conventional model of PAYE - why not shake things up? If you’re reading this and it’s in your capacity to employ brilliant freelancers, and, you’re ACE funded; you’ll be able to write on your reports that you’re making decent progress towards meeting the Dynamism Investment Principle - how about that? (if you don’t know what that is, take a look at my blog on dynamism, it’s an oldie but a goodie).

There are so many benefits to being freelance and benefits too for organisations of working more closely with us. I care passionately about advocating for freelance rights, working towards tipping the balance and promoting ourselves for what we’re worth. But it feels like a long and lonely battle. Who actually cares? Often, we freelancers are too busy to continue fighting, too tired, too focused on the next thing or, sometimes bravely start calling out the mistreatment/malpractice/questionable ethics, only to be shunned, not taken as seriously or left at the bottom of the pile. Where does that leave us? All too often burned. I’m not saying that this is me, but I am articulating my frustrations here; being party to, observing, talking with clients and getting out and about. I see it and hear it.

So what’s the answer?

Employ us and treat us well. Not to repeat myself, but there’s definitely a theme emerging here…

I’m lucky that I’ve been there before. By there, I mean that I’ve been that person in the organisation who’s had freelancers reach out to me. I’ve employed many, many in the past. I took risks and talked to freelancers about their wants and needs. Because of this experience, and the fact that I worked in senior roles, it means that I understand how to talk the organisational lingo - for a start, being assertive counts for a great deal. But it is risky, if we freelancers are too assertive/demanding/needy then it becomes convenient for organisations to ignore us. Under the guise that they’re too busy. Well hello, we are all too busy. Perhaps freelancers are even more so, because whilst we’re out there delivering and making work happen (for ourselves), we’re running businesses (ourselves), having a life and trying to make ends meet (ourselves).

Freelancers make up approx 70% of the arts workforce. That means that 30% work in salaried roles for organisations. So, why is it so inequitable? Who has created this system? What can we do about it? I’m not asking for hand outs here - although it would be nice if more organisations took us more seriously. What I am asking for is a whole perception shift, and a recommendation that if organisations do work with freelancers, that we’re treated properly, ethically, treated as equals and with seriousness. The sector must continue to listen and learn.

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If any of this resonates with you, please connect with me, I’m always up for chatting.

Or, if you’re an organisation leader or salaried staff member, let’s chat!

Maybe I can support you to support more freelancers? Or maybe you could engage me to help you deliver & maximise your strategy?

Email: hello@amydaltonhardy.co.uk

Soapbox Series

Revisiting My Personal Values: The Importance of Values-Led Work (as a Freelancer in the arts)

Kicking off 2023