Sectors Tag

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First steps toward sectoral covenant for cultural and creative sector

2 July 2023

Photo: Shutterstock

Platform ACCT was established to permanently strengthen the labor market of the cultural and creative sector and improve the (income) position of workers active in it. We do this through social dialogue. This is a continuous conversation between representatives of social partners (workers, contractors, employers and commissioners) and other interest representatives and governments. Through the social dialogue, agreements are made between parties about improving the (income) position for all workers in the cultural and creative sector. Work is also being done to secure these agreements, among other things through the drafting of a sectoral covenant.

Platform ACCT, from a facilitating (preparatory and coordinating) role, has started the development of a sectoral covenant desired by the sector. To this end, the Platform ACCT board adopted a roadmap at the end of April. The schedule has since been adjusted. The government supports this initiative and sees this as an important step toward implementation of fair pay in the sector.

the first phase

Starting in July 2023, the Federation of Culture (FC), the Creative Coalition (CC), the Arts Union, FNV Media & Culture and the Federation of Creative Industries (FCI) will participate in the first phase of talks. These parties, which as umbrella organizations represent a broad constituency of both employers/clients and employees/self-employed workers, will work together to discuss and establish the general principles of the covenant. The principles, based on the Fair Practice Code, include topics such as fair working conditions, fair pay, flexibility and security, and combating false self-employment. At a later stage, there will be room for other parties and stakeholders to join and contribute their perspectives and ideas

Kunsten ’92, the Ministry of OCW, the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) and the Interprovincial Consultation (IPO) will be asked to be present in the second phase as observers at the meetings to be scheduled at that time so that these organizations will be kept informed of progress and can provide input where necessary.

Platform ACCT will share regular updates and information on the progress of the sectoral covenant throughout the process. In addition, participating parties commit to informing their constituencies about the progress of the talks and developments around the covenant. This will keep working people, work providers and other stakeholders in the cultural and creative sector well informed and able to provide input for a future-proof covenant.

This initiative marks an important step toward fair and sustainable working conditions and spurs the industry to further cooperation and dialogue.

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Toward fair practice for interdisciplinary practices between art and technology

20 May 2023

Photo: Wikimedia

This week the participants of the new chain table Digital Culture meet for the first time! Workers, work providers, intermediaries, experts and representatives of vocational training and knowledge institutes will get to work concretizing the fair practice code in the field of new technologies, new media, games and the virtual domain.

Research, experimentation and innovation at the base

Digital culture involves a diverse and interdisciplinary field. The presentation forms and media within the sub-sector include video, light, sound, smell, games, screen-based media and interaction, interactive physical games, performance, installations, etc. All the senses are appealed to; the work is to be seen, heard, smelled and felt. Characteristically, the work does not merely use technology, but the creator is critical and inquisitive of technology. In this sector, our digital society is questioned and other perspectives are developed. Research, experimentation and innovation are central.

“Digital and interdisciplinary art forms offer great opportunities for renewing and innovating creation.”

Creating structure in a diverse and interdisciplinary field

Digital and interdisciplinary art forms offer great opportunities for renewing and innovating creation. At the same time, it remains difficult to form a full picture of equitable working conditions for interdisciplinary practices. Creators often have an interdisciplinary practice between art and technology, operating within different contexts and within which they occupy roles from producer to performer.

These different contexts and function roles are often not taken into account by clients in their budgets and by creators in their fees. The needs and desired practice tools of the digital culture sector and the corresponding objectives will be outlined at the kick-off meeting.

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Third chain table music professionals launched

4 May 2023

Photo: fairPACCT

Within the fairPACCT program, we are working on better rates and conditions for workers in the cultural and creative sector. After the chain tables for pop and classical musicians, musicians in the Jazz, World and Impro genre are now following. Partly on the initiative of trade association BIMpro – with Susanne Alt as the driving force – 11 representatives of musicians/composers, rights organizations, impresarios and other interested parties met on April 18 to give the starting shot. A hopeful and valuable beginning with attention to very unique perspectives appropriate to this genre. In the coming period we will continue to work on the broader composition of the group and a clear objective/mission.

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Producer or actor, director or make-up artist; everyone will soon be speaking the same language

21 January 2023

Photo: fairPACCT

Creating a shared basis that workers and clients can refer to when making agreements and when complying with agreements made is high on the agenda of the chain table film/AV. Special attention was therefore given to compiling a framework of terms, which by now already includes more than 250 terms; from “liability” to “sixth and seventh days.” Doreen Boonekamp, independent chair of the chain table, explained the importance of the conceptual framework and how the working group got to work on this comprehensive task:

Learning to speak the same language

Because of the lead time, complexity and labor intensity, the production process of feature films, animation films, documentaries, innovative media productions and series involves many different people with different specialties. These specialties involve the necessary, often industry-specific, concepts. Added to this is the fact that funding for productions is project-based and virtually everyone is self-employed. That means new agreements for each production and thus renegotiation. Currently, terms often still have varying interpretations. This causes misunderstandings and delays in negotiating (assignment) agreements and performing work. A framework of terms will soon enable workers, clients and employers to speak the same language, making it easier to reach unambiguous agreements.

Togetherness in the industry increased

The working group started with a rough list compiled from contributed terms including descriptions by all chain table participants. A split was first made between general concepts and concepts with valuation. In the first phase, which runs through Feb. 23, the working group is focusing on creating a general glossary of terms. Chain table participants often gave different descriptions for the same terms; the working group reformulated these neutrally. In this way, the terms will soon be useful to all disciplines rather than to one specific profession. The chain table participants realize that the outcome of the chain table is important to the entire subsector. The need and interest for improvement is very high. This is also noticeable in the energy, time and attention that all participants put into this process. The collaboration and togetherness within the entire audiovisual production sector has received a huge boost during the corona pandemic and with developments in the audiovisual landscape. That is characteristic of this chain table.

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Labor conditions archaeologists on agenda for Reuvens Days 2022

18 November 2022

Photo: fairPACCT

Archaeology chain table at Reuvens Days 2022

On Thursday, Nov. 17, the Archaeology chain table of the fairPACCT program was represented at Reuvens Days 2022, the national conference for the archaeology sector.

Walk-in meeting room improvement of working conditions

During a special walk-in meeting, archaeologists could contribute ideas about improving employment conditions in archaeology. How can we ensure that the terms of employment are good for all archaeologists in the Netherlands? What steps need to be taken to make them future-proof? During the walk-in session, the chain table participants engaged in discussions with young archaeologists, particularly those who were starting out or still studying. The concerns about their professional future were clear and their input will be included in further developments.

Policy response to Culture Council opinion

Program Manager fairPACCT Noud van de Rhee participated in a session reflecting on the Council for Culture’s advice “Archaeology with the times.” This focused on the policy response of State Secretary Gunay Uslu of Culture and Media, which was drafted partly with input from Platform ACCT. Present at the session included Christianne Matthijssen (Director of Heritage and Arts, OCW) and Dieke Wesselingh (Head of Heritage Municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch).