Lesley
I have simply noted that while freelancers are being very vocal (and quite rightly too) no-one is putting forward the customers’ viewpoint at the moment, and felt that someone should play devil’s advocate and raise the considerations that we all as a sector ought to be thinking about. This is a very serious problem that is developing and we ought to combine forces to see how we can counteract the trend that I personally can see developing – projects with small pots of money that are still being offered out to people who understandably feel undervalued, and therefore the devaluation of museum education as a whole.
I, as I am sure most of us do, appreciate that freelancers need to cover everything you have mentioned and more. And I most certainly am not suggesting that you work for less, really we need freelancers to opt for the projects that they feel value their services appropriately and not tender for those that don’t, so that we can pressurise grant-bodies into appreciating the costs involved more. Perhaps the way forward does remain to pool small-projects into a larger ‘interpretation/ education development’ project so that we can secure the more appropriate level of funding, but this is likely mean less projects for everyone to tender for resulting in freelancers being faced with the same issues as employed people, more and more going for fewer and fewer jobs.
I simply wished to explain that from the customers’ viewpoint we as a sector seem to be heading towards a climate where we could be facing the prospect of only projects funded by the likes of the HLF, and the other major education grant-bodies (and even they are being more selective) going ahead because they are the only grant-pots that will distribute the level of funds that value interpretation properly. Can we really accept this as a future? A time of stagnation after such a wonderful period of experimentation, creativity and growth.
Perhaps this is something we should debate at the next conference?
Jo Willis
Education & Events Officer
Kew Bridge Steam Museum
Tel: 020 8568 4757 Fax: 020 8569 9978
I must speak up for freelancers too - while the fees might look generous, most of us have to pay for travel, subsistence, home office costs and equipment, even accommodation sometimes, and tax and NI out of the fee. There is no pension or sick pay. I also find I work many more hours on a freelance project than I would if I was an employee and going home at the end of the day. You keep working until the project is completed even if it takes more time than the fee allows for. So we freelancers are usually good value for the money, knowing that the quality of the work is paramount to continuing to have work! And for many of us, the freelance income is our only income, not extra pocket money - ie it pays the mortgage.
Other professionals would be horrified at the suggestion that they should do the work for less because of hard economic times and be grateful for what they are offered - grants for capital works will not be smaller for the builders and architects, the cost of design and exhibitions will not be less, plumbers and surveyors will not lower their fees. You are paying for a level of expertise and experience as well as someone's time.
Heritage Learning & Interpretation Consultant
Woodbridge IP12 1HL Suffolk UK
On 01/03/2011, at 12:03 PM, Jo Willis wrote:
I feel that I must speak up as a “customer” – it seems to me that the question to ask of freelancers is would you prefer a trend of fewer jobs with reasonable pay (thereby having to supplement your income with alternative regular part-time work such as retail) or a more frequent train of income even if it is of smaller pockets of funds?
It seems to me that people are forgetting the simple truth we are all facing is that gaining grants of a substantial enough nature to provide the kind of fees that freelancers would prefer to receive is becoming increasingly difficult, to the point where a small organisation such as the one I work for is faced with the decision of a) whether to even bother pursuing individual projects or b) put various projects on hold until they find a means of combining several projects into one large one as a means of hopefully securing interest from one of the few larger foundations still interested in education per se – which might be never.
Really many of us smaller organisations are facing the strong possibility of having to produce everything in-house which might result in not reaching the quality standards we might expect from a specialist. I for one am increasingly of the mind to carefully consider which projects we pursue in-house with a combination of skills from various volunteers, and what, if any, projects require freelancers and that we might stand a chance of securing sufficient funds to hire such services.
Surely this means we are faced with the possibility of creativity in our sector drying up? Does anyone really want that to happen?
Education & Events Officer
Tel: 020 8568 4757 Fax: 020 8569 9978
Fewer funds should not be used as an excuse to offer substantially less than a project is clearly worth. Considering the organisation who has circulated this tender, I would have hoped that they would value the project enough to resource it more sensibly.
After all, no kitchen fitter or roofer would accept being paid less for on a partial worktop or half tiled roof?
We have to value what we do more, otherwise no one else will, even in harder times. I don't think it should silently be tolerated.
Tehmina
it is a small amount for potentially loads of work, but I've taken on contracts like this before. I make it clear that it only buys - lets say - 3 days/24hours of my time, not the finished resource. This has 2 outcomes, the commissioning organisation find out who I am and what my rates are and I get a crack at a small piece of work, more may come my way later on . Let's not throw the baby and bathwater out together! There's an ever shrinking pool on money out there. Date: Friday, 25 February, 2011, 11:03 £600 to create a set of resources AND teachers' notes? This seems like a lot of work for such a small fee, and frankly a bit of an insult to those of us who spend many hours/days working to produce high quality educational resources. I think because I can I can because I think --- On Thu, 24/2/11, Penny Russell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
From: Penny Russell <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Freelance opportunity
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, 24 February, 2011, 14:31
Royal Collection Learning is looking for a freelancer with relevant experience to deliver a pilot project for the creation of online learning resources for secondary teachers and students. For further information, please see the attached brief. |
To apply, please email [log in to unmask] with a CV, details of relevant experience of online resource development and a brief statement as to why you think you would be suitable to undertake this development project. The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Friday 4 March 2011. With best wishes, Penny Penny Russell, Learning Manager
The Royal Collection
Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1NJ
Telephone 01753 868286 | Extension 2442 Click here for current and forthcoming exhibitions
Sign up for our e-Newsletter at www.royalcollection.org.uk and keep up to date with forthcoming events and publications, Royal Collection podcasts and the latest arrivals in our shops. Royal Household Legal Disclaimer - This message and any attachments should only be read by those persons to whom it is addressed and be used by them for its intended purpose. The Royal Household cannot accept liability for statements made which are clearly the sender's own and not made on behalf of the Royal Household. Replies to this email address may be subject to interception or monitoring for operational reasons or for lawful business purposes. ________________________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs Email Security System. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + GEM list: Contact the list owner for assistance at [log in to unmask] For information about joining, leaving and suspending mail (eg during a holiday) see the list website at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=GEM + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + |
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Kew Bridge Steam Museum is an Anchor Point in the European Route of Industrial Heritage
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