Ash Mann draws on The Hidden Cost, his survey of 187 digital practitioners, to explore the essential work that keeps cultural organisations running but rarely appears in a job description. He links his findings to Arts Marketing Association’s Together We Act research, looks at how unplanned AI adoption adds to the load, and sets out ... Read more

Written by freelancers, for freelancers, the Freelancers Handbook by Arts Council England offers practical support to freelancers across the cultural sector, and guidance for the organisations that work with them. It covers essential topics including contracts, fees, funding, tax, business development, and professional wellbeing. And it’s accompanied by a Resources Directory, providing listings of paid ... Read more

A wide-ranging study of creative and cultural freelance workers in England carried out by independent researchers at the University of Essex on behalf of Arts Council England. The report highlights several significant challenges and concerns that the sector’s freelance workforce currently faces. It concludes with proposed action across eight key areas to support a more ... Read more

Laura Mulhern, founder of Plan Make Do explores how to manage the financial peaks and troughs of a freelance creative career by creating passive income streams.

The Illustrated Freelancer’s Guide is a practical resource for the increasing number of artists, makers, writers and other creatives working freelance in Scotland today. Written by Heather Parry and illustrated by Maria Stoian, it uses a highly visual combination of comics and text to highlight key issues, model scenarios and educate creative workers about how to protect themselves ... Read more

In April 2020, initiated by Fuel Theatre in London, some 150 sponsor organisations signed an open letter announcing a new national Freelance Task Force, which promised its members solidarity, representation, connections and some financial support. This evaluation includes practical  and strategic recommendations to inform the way forward.

In 2018, Beckie Smith, Directing Consultant at Flying Geese shared her journey setting up her own consultancy and tackling a career as a freelancer in My Freelance Journey – a series of eight blogs written for AMAculturehive. Two years on Beckie takes us through how her consultancy has grown and now, as an established freelancer, ... Read more

A compendium of resources created by the Arts Development Company through the Culture+ programme to support artists, small businesses and freelancers. Culture+ is funded by the ERDF and Arts Council England. Illustration by Bel Burkill

How I Cope  is an on-going blog series where colleagues from across the sector – and at different stages of their career – share their experiences of self-care and wellbeing.        Mental health and balancing work and life is increasingly recognised as essential to our happiness and ability to make the most of our talents. ... Read more

Freelance journalist Arnelle Paterson shares her journey as part of our blog series How I Cope. How I Cope  is an on-going blog series where colleagues from across the sector – and at different stages of their career – share their experiences of self-care and wellbeing.  

How I Cope  is an on-going blog series where colleagues from across the sector – and at different stages of their career – share their experiences of self-care and wellbeing. Here, Hannah Mason, founder of  The Content Managers, argues that we need a change of perspective.

The final blog in a series of 8 where we follow Arts Marketing and Fundraising consultant Beckie Smith on her journey into life as a freelancer. 

MY FREELANCE JOURNEY is a new bi-monthly blog series where we follow Arts Marketing and Fundraising consultant Beckie Smith on her journey into life as a freelancer   .    

MY FREELANCE JOURNEY is a new bi-monthly blog series where we follow Arts Marketing and Fundraising consultant Beckie Smith on her journey into life as a freelancer    

MY FREELANCE JOURNEY is a new bi-monthly blog series where we follow Arts Marketing and Fundraising consultant Beckie Smith on her journey into life as a freelancer  .  

MY FREELANCE JOURNEY is a new bi-monthly blog series where we follow Arts Marketing and Fundraising consultant Beckie Smith on her journey into life as a freelancer  

MY FREELANCE JOURNEY is a new bi-monthly blog series where we follow Arts Marketing and Fundraising consultant Beckie Smith on her journey into life as a freelancer. Understanding your place in the market So, how does my new freelance venture fit in the market? It is here that I need to name check and thank ... Read more

MY FREELANCE JOURNEY is a new bi-monthly blog series where we follow Arts Marketing and Fundraising consultant Beckie Smith on her journey into life as a freelancer

MY FREELANCE JOURNEY is a new bi-monthly blog series where we follow Arts Marketing and Fundraising consultant Beckie Smith on her journey into life as a freelancer.