The guide is available here to view as a PDF: Engaging Creative Freelancers
As Wales marked St David’s Day week, CULT Cymru (Creative Unions Learning Together) launched a new bilingual best practice guide designed to strengthen the working lives of creative freelancers across the cultural sector. The resource shows how small, thoughtful changes from engagers and organisations can have a transformative impact on wellbeing, safety, equity and fair work.
Freelancers make up the majority of the creative workforce in Wales, yet often face unpredictable working conditions, limited support and inconsistent access to safe and respectful workplaces. The new guide brings together clear, practical steps that organisations of all sizes can take to create healthier, fairer and more sustainable working environments.
Developed by CULT Cymru as part of its ongoing work to support Wales’ creative workforce, the guide draws on widely recognised union guidance to support fair and healthy working conditions. It covers everything from clear communication and inclusive recruitment to safe working practices, access needs, mental health support and fair contracts.
The resource has been welcomed by national partners including Arts Council of Wales, TAC, the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales and TUC Cymru. It will also be included in motions to both TUC Cymru and South West TUC Congress this year, recognising its wider relevance to fair work and wellbeing across the creative economy.
The guide is available in both Welsh and English and is intended for use by venues, producers, managers, organisations and freelancers themselves. It forms part of CULT Cymru’s wider programme of training, wellbeing support and fair work advocacy funded through the Wales Union Learning Fund and Creative Wales.
Quotes
“Freelancers are essential to the creative industries, and the Musicians’ Census shows that 72% of musicians are freelance, either for all or part of their careers. They deserve fair pay, safe workplaces and clear, respectful communication wherever they work. This guide sets out achievable steps that organisations can take to improve conditions and support the wellbeing of the freelance workforce across the sector.
#FreelanceShoutOut”
Naomi Pohl, Musicians’ Union General Secretary
“Wales’ creative sector makes a vital contribution to our economy, culture and the wellbeing of our citizens. In the spirit of social partnership, where the Welsh Government, employers and unions work collaboratively, the creative unions are proud to introduce this practical guide to support organisations engaging freelancers.
A thriving sector that reflects our communities relies on retaining and attracting a diverse workforce, free from discrimination and supportive of positive mental health. By fostering fair and healthy working conditions for creative freelancers, we can strengthen the industry and ensure it continues to produce high quality, inspiring work nationally and world-wide.”
Siân Gale, CULT Cymru, Learning & Development Manager
“Freelancers deserve dignity, respect, fair pay and decent terms, the basics every worker should have. This guide cuts through the noise and sets out clearly what fair treatment should look like across our thriving Welsh creative sector. No more blurred lines or avoidable harm: if we value freelancers, we must show it in how we work with them.”
Shavanah Taj, General Secretary, TUC Cymru
“Arts Council of Wales fully supports the introduction of the Engaging Creative Freelancers guidance. We actively promote the principle of paying artists and creative practitioners properly, and we are committed to ensuring the safety, wellbeing and welfare of all with whom we interact.”
Dafydd Rhys, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Wales
“TAC very much welcomes Engaging Creative Freelancers, which provides clear and practical advice to create a fair and healthy workplace for all. This resource highlights the small yet important steps that we can all take to ensure best practice. It’s crucial that we look after our freelancers, who are the backbone of the production sector, and that they remain available to the industry we work in to secure a successful future.”
Llyr Morus, TAC Chair
“Mae TAC yn croesawu’n fawr y Canllaw i Weithwyr Llawrydd sy’n rhoi cyngor clir ac ymarferol i greu gweithle teg ac iach i bawb. Mae’r adnodd hwn yn tynnu sylw at y camau bach ond pwysig y gallwn ni i gyd eu cymryd i sicrhau arfer gorau. Mae’n hanfodol ein bod yn gofalu am ein gweithwyr llawrydd sy’n asgwrn cefn y sector cynhyrchu, a’u bod yn parhau i fod ar gael i’r diwydiant rydym yn gweithio ynddo i sicrhau dyfodol llwyddiannus.”
Llyr Morus, Cadeirydd TAC
“I am delighted to support this important guide to working with creative freelancers. Cultural wellbeing is central to Cymru’s vision of the future we want for generations to come, and the freelance sector is vital to ensuring this. This guide is timely, setting out a really useful set of guidelines for those commissioning creative freelancers, to help ensure they do so in a way that supports fair working practices and safeguards wellbeing for freelance practitioners operating within the sector.”
Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales