FREELANCERS MAKE THEATRE WORK MEETING: FRIDAY 6th AUGUST
Chair: Peter McKintosh
Minutes: Josie Underwood
Present: Peter McKintosh, Josie Underwood, Kelsie Acton, Alistair Cope, Jake Orr, Prema Mehta
Apologies: Paule Constable, Nikki Edmonds, Susan Kempster, Chino Odimba
- Welcome & introductions
- Updates & reports:
BAC Critical Friends Update (EJ)
EJ gave us an update on how the Critical Friends process is going so far. Really good case study for future consultation projects. We sent our Terms of Reference to BAC, knowing the process was all going to be quite quick, they signed and returned the ToR, and then, having not quite confirmed our team yet we were sent the call out, and on Thursday were given the deadline for sign off on Monday. The team agreed that this felt too quick (as the call out felt very flawed and confusing), that some of the terms of reference we had agreed were already being breached (eg, working to unfriendly timelines), that our access requirements were not being considered in this timeframe, and we had concerns that we still hadn’t actually been contracted for this work, so we sent over an email to BAC with our concerns and we received an encouraging response. We have agreed that we will not put the FMTW name to the call out, as there isn’t the time to respond to the proposed call, let alone improve it, and that we will continue to act as critical friends to BAC in a slower manner (having meetings with BAC to discuss how this process could be improved and noticing what the flaws have been thus far), and as our terms of reference request, we will be included in the reporting for this process.
We are yet to have a conversation internally about how the fee will be split amongst the group, and this is our next step. It is also important to note that we are splitting this fee with three FMTW volunteers, and one external freelancer (Nina).
JO – offer made for wider support from the FMTW group.
EJ – currently we haven’t had the time to consider what we might need, but might be useful in the future of this process! Also wanted to acknowledge that Kelsie is in a bridging place between BAC and FMTW.
KA – It might be of note that BAC likely don’t have total decision making power, as the Mayors office are heavily involved in the delivery of this project.
EJ/JU – Think this will be a really valuable learning project for FMTW, and the process will be documented throughout and retrospectively, but we need to find a way to creatively report as the conversation is very nuanced. Also interesting to consider what the processes are for payment when FMTW are offered paid opportunities?
EJ – Note for the strategy group that the FMTW “RESEARCH” group should focus on internal research and external research.
ACTION POINT:
- Note for Strategy group to think about Research group – internal and external (Strategy group)
Press & Enquiries: (Josie)
- Library Live
- March for the Arts
Both organisations have been in contact and Josie has shared on Slack. Library live is an offer for FMTW to provide speakers, and MftA are interested in working together after our meeting in the past couple of months. Josie will arrange a meeting with MftA for after the Away Day. It was also discussed that these things could be spoken about on the Away Day for some small wins on the day, and also that a discussion about decision making when it comes to enquiries should be had on the AD.
AC – offer of decision making / enquiries process that they could be included in a friday round up alongside meeting polls/meeting dates/times/ updates and notes.
EJ – could this be a minimum requirement of FMTW volunteers?
ACTION POINT:
- Arrange a meeting with MftA (Josie)
- Discussion about decision making process for enquiries to be had on the Away Day
- Discussion about minimum volunteer requirements to be had on Away Day
Away Day (Josie)
Update on the meeting that the planning group had with Richard Watts (who will be facilitating on the day). A schedule will be going out next week (at least 24 hours before the Away Day). All attendees are asked to bring a plate, cutlery and a cup with them – Josie will bring some more!
Discussion over access requirements for those attending that are deaf/hard of hearing led to questions about clear facemasks, brightly lit space and microphones. Josie is going to ask NT if a microphone set up is possible.
Covid protocol for the day: masks and 2m distance in the building. We are the only ones in the building and have been asked to leave for 6pm to allow for the evening show in the Olivier.
VM – offer from friend Akhila to do some visual note taking on the afternoon of the Away Day. (This may also mean needing a microphone so that Akhila can hear, and access to zoom – Josie to discuss with NT)
It was discussed that having multiple conversations in a small space is inaccessible for some, and therefore Josie will ask NT if we are able to use the upstairs gallery space (which is also wheelchair accessible) so that if we need to break up into smaller groups we can do so with adequate distance between groups.
In response to the poll put on Slack, it was agreed that there will be no meeting next friday 13th August (after the Away Day)
Josie will book a space at the Understudy for after the Away Day.
ACTION POINT:
- Look into sourcing clear masks for Away Day (Josie)
- BYO plate, cutlery, cup (All coming to Away Day)
- Ask the national: (Josie)
- Could we use the gallery space above?
- Can we use a microphone?
- What access to zoom might we be able to set up?
- Send out Away Day schedule and details at least 24 hours before the 12th (Josie)
- No meeting next Friday 13th August (All)
- Book outside table at Understudy (Josie)
ACTION POINTS RECAP
- Note for Strategy group to think about Research group – internal and external (Strategy group)
- Arrange a meeting with MftA (Josie)
- Discussion about decision making process for enquiries to be had on the Away Day
- Discussion about minimum volunteer requirements to be had on Away Day
- Look into sourcing clear masks for Away Day (Josie)
- BYO plate, cutlery, cup (All coming to Away Day)
- Ask the national: (Josie)
- Could we use the gallery space above?
- Can we use a microphone?
- What access to zoom might we be able to set up?
- Send out Away Day schedule and details at least 24 hours before the 12th (Josie)
- No meeting next Friday 13th August (All)
- Book outside table at Understudy (Josie)
Upcoming Friday Meetings:
Date: Chair – Minutes
20st Aug: Chair – Peter McK Minutes Josie
27th Aug: Chair – TBC Minutes Josie
3rd Aug: Chair – TBC Minutes TBC