How local authorities can work with creative freelancers
Introduction
Introduction
The creative and cultural sector has long proved a key component in supporting local communities, and many local and combined authorities are already working to create thriving cultural clusters in their localities.
Venues, organisations and artists create memorable and meaningful events that tell the stories of their communities as well as bringing world class talent to local people. This creative activity also delivers on wider agendas, such as supporting tourism by attracting people into the area, supporting the economy through additional spend, offering education and skills development opportunities for local people, supporting health and wellbeing, as well as helping to create an identity for communities.
To achieve these benefits, local authorities and their partners, will need to engage with the practitioners that live and work in your area.
Creative and cultural practitioners are the artists, musicians, actors, writers, performers, creators, educators, museum curators, technicians, producers, marketing and administration staff and more who are an essential part of what drives the creative industries. They will be part of local communities and have lived experience of the local area, as well as holding the skills and expertise necessary to make great creative and cultural experiences happen.
Though organisations and venues are visible and crucial elements of cultural ecology, the work that is presented, and how it is presented, is led by the workforce in the sector. Unlike other many other sectors, much of the creative industry workforce is made up of freelance individuals. 30% of the workforce across all creative and cultural sectors and around 70% of the theatre workforce are freelancers. A significant number of your local residents will be working in the arts and therefore keen and able to collaborate with organisations to both develop exciting creative ideas and support the development of their local communities.
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the precarity of creative freelancers, which has led to many local authorities and other local partners looking to better support these people to protect the viability of the cultural sector in their communities.
The same is true for us here at the Arts Council and we have produced this resource to support local authorities, and their partners, in developing their work and support for local creative practitioners.
To help you to achieve this, we have produced this resource which outlines the things you need to consider.
We also share examples of how some local authorities and their partners have worked with creative organisations and practitioners in order to strengthen the local cultural ecology. We hope this will spark ideas as well as provide models for their delivery.
Here is the information that we will share with you:
Building connections
- Connecting practitioners and opportunities
- Fair Pay and Equitable working conditions
Delivering on agendas
- Business Support
- Creative Health
- Education,
- Employment and Skills
- High Streets and Town Centres
- Libraries
Resourcing this activity
- National Lottery Project Grants – Place Partnerships
- Share your views
Connecting practitioners and opportunities
We’ve heard from creative and cultural practitioners that it can be challenging to find local opportunities and they’re not clear on where they’re promoted.
Post your freelance opportunities and longer-term roles on Arts Jobs - a free jobs and events listing service operated by Arts Council England and widely used by the creative and cultural sector.
Could you collaborate with the practitioners and arts organisations in your area to develop together a centralised local resource to share with creative practitioners and arts organisations in your area?
Are there ways that your organisation could support opportunities for people to meet together? Could the local authority team support the development of local artist and practitioner networks, or host a fair with a wide range of local providers coming together to meet local practitioners?
The Isle of Wight Creative Network is one example:
Visual Arts manager at Quay Arts for 13 years, Georgia Newman, saw first-hand the struggle many creatives were facing on the Island and with no network or development programme to support them. Georgia ran a series of R&D sessions and consultations with artists and creatives to find out what was needed to make their creative practice more sustainable on the Isle of Wight.
This complemented the Isle of Wight Council’s fresh focus on culture as a major driver for regeneration and led to further investment in the sector support organisation – the Island Collection. Isle of Wight Council also supported the IW Creative Network pilot development programme for one year in 2022.
The Isle of Wight Creative Network supports artists and creatives on the Isle of Wight through business support, networking, resources and profiling. A bespoke pilot Development Programme was made available in 2022 for individuals joining the Network. The programme aims to nurture and inspire, allowing creatives to thrive and become more sustainable.
It provides a suite of creative Zoom sessions focusing on skills development, such as: DIY arts practice, mindset, marketing, applying for arts funding, and building awareness on the Isle of Wight’s UNESCO Biosphere status. They also provide networking events on the Isle of Wight, meeting in cultural venues like Ventnor Exchange, Independent Arts and The Department with Shademakers, shining a spotlight on the diverse creativity and culture existing on the Island.
Away days to other associate groups across the South were built into the programme. These connected members with other creative professionals and spaces, with an aim that the ‘Solent Triangle’ will reignite, ensuring creatives’ work are presented both on the Isle of Wight and beyond.
A new website was built, providing resources, news and opportunities as well as profiling creatives that joined the network. It will also soon include cultural venues and facilities on Isle of Wight, linking people to place.
Georgia says: ‘Since the programme started, creatives have gained confidence, been successful with their own funding bids, become more networked through in-person meet-ups, accessed the websites rich resources as well as signposted to other online resources such VASW and The UnCultured website. They have been given more commissioning opportunities through organisations like the IWCEP and the Island Collection. It is starting to galvanize the sector as a whole and nurture this ecosystem of creatives on the Island.
Business support
Growth hubs and business support initiatives provide a range of support and training for local businesses which could be highly relevant to creative and cultural practitioners.
However, there can be a disconnect between those initiatives and the approach to work of the not-for-profit cultural industries.
Here are examples of how local authorities build those connections and support freelancers:
Lowestoft Virtual Creative Hub Project | East Suffolk Council
The virtual creative hub is a place for artists, makers, freelancers, and organisations to connect, collaborate, and share ideas with other like-minded people. We want to increase confidence, experimentation, and growth, and will accomplish this by cultivating connections, providing business support, and supporting the sector by raising the profile and public awareness of our emerging creative sector.
We asked Kate Ellis (Regeneration Project Officer) and Jo Lovett (freelance co-ordinator) about the project:
What challenge did you want to address?
In response to the impact of Covid-19 and the associated lockdowns and loss of earnings that freelancers faced, we wanted to create a Virtual Hub where local creatives could come together to develop their business skills and connect with each other.
What did you do and who helped you deliver it?
The Virtual Hub was hosted on East Suffolk Council’s (ESC’s) new place-based website, Think Lowestoft and featured:
- A resource hub of funding opportunities
- Recordings of 7 virtual workshops covering funding, social media, ecommerce, and transforming empty places into useful spaces such as pop-up galleries
- The Creative Directory which saw 70 creative enterprises create profiles and was the most viewed page on the site.
- Links to the Arts Council’s Digital Culture Network
In addition to this, 1-2-1 support was provided for 15 creatives providing marketing advice, business support and support with bid writing.
There were also monthly meetings for local creatives and organisations – initially intended to be online these moved to in person meetings hosted by a rotating group of local arts venues. This allowed people to meet each other and build informal connections. When Covid restrictions met these could not take place in person, it was decided to reschedule them rather than move online.
The work was delivered by the ESC Regeneration Project Officer and a freelance project coordinator. It was funded by Arts Council England.
What impact did it have on your organisation and the creative practitioners involved?
It was really key to build the confidence of creative practitioners regarding approaching organisations for funding as well as developing the business skills useful in supporting their businesses. It was clear that these workshops and in person meetings really help to make that impact on individuals.
For creative practitioners we were aware that many were contacted after having their profile on The Creative Directory. The support regarding business skills was also key in building confidence
Artists came from other counties, and it strengthened local networks.
Other examples of approaches to business support:
- Wigan Council in partnership with The Fire Within Gallery delivered a funding programme for creative practitioners in response to Covid-19.
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s funding has helped develop Enterprising You. Enterprising You provides self-employed people and gig economy workers with tailor-made support through dedicated business coaches, with help in areas such as personal finance, mentoring, marketing, recruitment and health and wellbeing. The innovative, free support programme, delivered by GC Business Growth Hub and PeoplePlus, is commissioned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) with funding from the Department for Education (DfE). It has been extended until 2023.
Creative health
Improving health outcomes for all communities as well as supporting mental health needs is a key concern for public service providers and local authorities.
Creative and cultural practitioners have been able to contribute to the delivery of this through social prescribing options and creative practice within health settings.
We have included practitioners as one of the three key themes in our Creative Health Plan. In the Plan you can find out more about how we will be improving the support for creative and cultural practitioners working in this field.
The Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance (CHWA) provide resources to work with practitioners and commissioned a report into practitioners working in health settings which noted that ‘Resources directed towards Peer to Peer initiatives will help to grow the creative practitioner workforce as a whole.’
Education partnerships
To provide opportunities for children and young people, it’s vital to support the creative and cultural practitioners living and working in your local area to be aware of local opportunities and ready to work in education settings.
Schools and colleges are key employers of creative and cultural practitioners, particularly writers, visual artists, musicians and theatre makers. They deliver projects that improve the educational and personal outcomes of children and young people. The skills that artists bring to working in local schools are valued and recognised, and complement their in-house capacity.
Local Cultural Education Partnerships (LCEPs) have proved vital in supporting opportunities for young people. 140 LCEPs across the country support children and young people to fulfil their creative potential and access high-quality cultural experiences where they live.
Working with LCEPs:
- Lewisham Education Arts Network provides direction, practical support and guidance to individuals and organisations involved in arts education, including freelance artists, arts project managers, school arts leaders, policy makers and arts commissioners.
- LEAN hosts a directory of opportunities for creatives and works in schools and colleges to support access into creative and cultural career opportunities through projects.
- Freelancers working in Lewisham meet and share experiences at regular Breakfast clubs and an annual conference.
- In partnership with Lewisham Council and SHAPES Lewisham, The Army of Creatives project took place in April 2022. LEAN recruited 30 local creative professionals who worked with year 9 classes in the borough, engaging 3000 young people. The project aimed to support young people from diverse backgrounds to consider creative careers.
Employment and skills development
Sustaining a career is a challenge for creative and cultural practitioners.
Many have identified the need for access to business skills, training and support, alongside opportunities to network, as critical to ensuring they are ready and able to take up opportunities in their areas.
Local and mayoral combined authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and local partners can collaborate to foster and develop programmes that support creative and cultural practitioners in their area. Relatively small-scale investment can pay significant dividends ensuring that the critical workforce is able to take up opportunity.
West Midlands Combined Authority, The Space, and ScreenSkills have teamed up to offer a ‘Filming Performance Bootcamp’ in partnership with Solihull College and University Centre to develop the next generation of multi-camera teams for filming live performance content.
Filming Performance bootcamp is a free 6-week programme for creative and arts professionals based in the West Midlands, Coventry or Warwickshire who are looking to expand their digital skills and further their careers. It will provide an essential overview of how live performances are captured for screen and how various art forms from music videos to poetry, theatre and dance can be filmed for TV and online audiences.
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Greater Manchester Combined Authority, with support from Arts Council England and DCMS have launched the Power Up Agency, working in three pilot areas in the North East, North West and Yorkshire to provide paid placements with employers in each region.
The flexibility of the agency model means that creative project apprentices can move between different employers to develop their skills and complete apprenticeships.
Project director, Joss Underwood, said: “Our vision for this project is to recruit, train and develop diverse talent and drive opportunities for greater representation from entry level roles through to leadership, ensuring that apprentices and employers are supported throughout.” During their time on the programme apprentices will work on creative projects with partner organisations.
They will learn about project management, budgeting and finance, stakeholder management and planning, setting them up for future success and a career within the industry.
Partners already supporting the project include Factory International, Leeds Grand Futures and Sage Gateshead.
High streets and town centres
Creative and cultural practitioners can deliver a wide range of arts practice which can animate spaces, making them more attractive to workers and shoppers alike.
High Street Action Zones and local Business Improvement Districts can collaborate with local arts organisations and freelance artists to create opportunities to work in empty shops.
Some authorities have supported the development of organisations that provide a vital broker role between practitioners and property owners, supporting partnerships to take on large and small scale empty properties in Meanwhile Use schemes, creating studio spaces, venues and rehearsal spaces for practitioners.
- Artspace Lifespace in Bristol a charity that recycles vacant, under-used and problem properties into thriving creative resources. ASLS work in partnership with artists, building owners, property developers, local communities and organisations to secure and re-cycle interesting, unusual and often difficult buildings as vibrant multi-use art venues. ASLS also act as an advisory body for artists and groups interested in taking on empty properties and turning them into creative hubs.
- Derby City Council is using its Future High Streets Funding to create a Make and Trade Zone for individual artists/ craftspeople. It is making use of Meanwhile provision on empty shops/ office spaces.
Other resources and examples:
- Creative Workspace Network resources >
- Creative Land Trust these resources >
- LCB Depot in Leicester along and associated spaces in the Phoenix and Makers Yard
- Creative Quarter and Antenna in Nottingham
- STEAMHouse in Birmingham
Libraries
Libraries are anchor institutions in their communities that give partners access to diverse, isolated and hard to reach communities and individuals.
While there may not be a library branch, there will be a library service supporting communities in every Priority Place and Levelling up for Culture Place. Library settings and collaborative programmes across libraries are increasingly valuing the work of artists and creative practitioners. Partnerships with local libraries can help support access to creative and cultural opportunities for people in the local community and connecting with artists will help ensure a good fit between library spaces and creative practitioners.
Suffolk Library Services, local authorities and Creative Arts East collaborated with the National Rural Touring Forum to produce an invaluable guide for people working in libraries.
The Touring Arts In Libraries project (TAIL) (ruraltouring.org) includes case studies, guides to working in libraries and an artists’ directory of shows suitable to tour to libraries. Artists and companies can put forward work which is then accessible for libraries looking to programme activity.
Libraries Unlimited deliver the Evolve programme across Devon and Torbay, linking artists and technologists into opportunities to work in library settings and creating and supporting a network of artists and organisations of Evolve.
The British Library’s National Network of Business & IP Centres offers support to individuals from a national network across libraries and can offer advice and support, training and events and can help your local creative practitioners with advice on protecting their intellectual property.