Freelance Task Force

Everything you need to know about the Freelance Task Force 2020

In May 2020, Fuel began working with more than 150 organisations and venues to create a Freelance Task Force. You can read the Open Letter to theatre and performance makers here.

We were fast-moving to set this up as quickly as we could so that the 70% of the theatre/performance workforce who are self-employed or freelance could be better represented in the conversations to come.

In June, the initial Freelance Task Force was formed with each organisation working independently to identify one freelancer who they would then pay for one day per week for June, July, and August (13 weeks) to be part of the Freelance Task Force. 169 freelancers made up the membership, and the Freelance Task Force worked together from June until September 2020.

Every organisation used a different process to do this. We monitored representation collectively, via a shared tracker as we went through the process, to try and ensure we achieved as much representation across the task force as possible. Given that we were working at speed and across multiple organisations, it was likely that there would be gaps in the representation we achieved: we aimed to work together to fill these as best we could, and where there were still gaps when the task force was up and running, we asked the task force for their ideas about how we could continue to improve this.

We remained transparent about our processes and about the successes and failures of his initiative along the way and remained open to ideas and provocations. This was an experiment and we were learning every day.

#BlackLivesMatter

In light of events that happened in May, we extended the deadline for recruitment to enable organisations to extend their searches wider and deeper, coordinate more effectively, and to enable more time to apply. We recognised that since this initiative was announced, racial injustice had escalated, and time and energy needed to be spent with, for, and by Black freelancers demanding justice.

We wanted to do what we could to ensure that their voices weren’t excluded from the conversations that were to come. We acknowledged how difficult these times were. This was a small but what we hoped practical act of solidarity.

Freelance Task Force Evaluation

In October 2020, MHM (Morris Hargreaves McIntyre) were commissioned to undertake an independent evaluation of this initial interaction of the Freelance Task Force.

Methodologies

MHM undertook a phased approach to the evaluation, starting with a gap analysis of existing data. This was followed by primary data collection, using three main mechanisms for feedback, with additional options provided for those with specific access needs. MHM engaged the following groups during the research: Freelance Task Force members; sponsor organisations and freelancers who were not members of the Freelance Task Force. 

The evaluation was measured against the following 4 broad aims:  

• A message of solidarity  
• Increase communication and connection  
• Representation, transparency, autonomy  
• Financial support 

This report synthesises the main findings of the research, with recommendations for any future iterations of the Freelance Task Force. 

Many thanks to MHM, Freelance Task Force members, Freelance Task Force sponsor organisations, Miranda Yates, Caroline Parker MBE, and Access All Areas.

• Full Report with Executive Summary
• Audio File (1 hour and 45 minutes) by Miranda Yates
• Easy Read by Access All Areas
• Large Print
• BSL (24 minutes) by Caroline Parker MBE

Freelance Task Force Members