Liverpool arts freelancers needed to shape post-pandemic working future

Liverpool collective March for the Arts is calling on freelancers to come forward and help shape their own post-pandemic future in the industry.

The grassroots arts and cultural organisation was formed last year to champion the city’s arts community through the current Covid crisis.

Now the body has received Arts Council England funding to form a committee which will draw up what is being described as a Freelance Working Agreement of best practice for both employers and employees to sign up to.

And it's appealing to freelance artists, musicians, designers, technicians, writers, producers and others in the cultural industry to join.

March for the Arts co-founder Caitlin Clough says: “Freelance workers are very vulnerable to poor working practice; they often face problems with poor communication, inaccessible or unclear hiring practice, lack of contracts, last minute work cancellation and no official channels for support at work.

“The last year has highlighted and exacerbated this existing problem, particularly in the arts sector which relies on freelancers more than any other industry.

“Being part of our Freelance Working Agreement Committee is an opportunity to get around the table with a diversity of players from creative industries and to shape the way freelancers are treated and valued for the future.”

The committee will work towards creating a document that promotes a fair working environment for freelance workers when hired and will be made up of Merseyside organisations and individual freelancers.

March for the Arts is looking for a wide range of freelancers to get involved, and individuals will receive renumeration for their committee work.

Applications open at 10am on February 10. More details HERE