As emerging arts-workers, project work will become familiar. Many of you will become expert at creating quotes, working to contracts and managing projects. Some projects will last for two days, two weeks or two years. You will need to learn how to ensure that your work is within the scope of the contract, as well as developing the skills to manage your project. In this section we will look at
1) Contract-of-service vs Contract-for-services
Contract-of-service
This means that you are engaged to work for another person as an employee (part-time, full-time or casual / fixed-term or tenured). Under this model of engagement, the employer is responsible for
paying wages
ensuring that the tax liability is paid
worker's compensation
worker's tools & equipment (in order to carry out the service)
Contract-for-services
This means that you are engaged as a contractor. It is for a specific task to be completed within a specific time-frame. Under this model of engagment, the employee or contractor is responsible for
retaining & payment tax
professional insurance
providing their own tools & equipment
(generally) the right to sub-contract & delegate.
There are more detailed explanations of both of these categories here and here.
2) Contract - components & scope
There are four components to a contract
offer
acceptance
consideration
intention to create a legal relationship
Consider some examples of contracts in your everyday life. Have a look at the example from the Arts Law Centre of Australia - Artists-in-the-Black comic from here. Can you identify the components of the contract. Do you think the artist has grounds for legal action?
Have a look at some sample visual arts contracts here - here and here
3) Managing your project
An important part of managing your project is making sure at the contract negotiation stage that you -
ensure that you are appropriately skilled to fulfil the contract
ensure that you are appropriately resourced to fulfil the contract
ensure that you are able to deliver on the scope of the contract
High level project management requires a special set of skills & training. As emerging arts workers, you should attempt to develop some of these skills through professional development. Some of the skills & resources are found below -
Time Management - Most contracts have timeframes (what to be delivered by when), so you're legally bound to complete your project, and possibly stages of the project at particular times. Keeping check on times is important. You might like to use a Gantt chart to assist you.
Budgets - Its important that you are able to manage your budget (what to be delivered by when for how much). There are many software packages that assist you to do this.
Employment Issues in the Arts
As emerging arts-workers, project work will become familiar. Many of you will become expert at creating quotes, working to contracts and managing projects. Some projects will last for two days, two weeks or two years. You will need to learn how to ensure that your work is within the scope of the contract, as well as developing the skills to manage your project. In this section we will look at
1) Contract-of-service vs Contract-for-services
Contract-of-service
This means that you are engaged to work for another person as an employee (part-time, full-time or casual / fixed-term or tenured). Under this model of engagement, the employer is responsible forContract-for-services
This means that you are engaged as a contractor. It is for a specific task to be completed within a specific time-frame. Under this model of engagment, the employee or contractor is responsible forThere are more detailed explanations of both of these categories here and here.
2) Contract - components & scope
There are four components to a contractConsider some examples of contracts in your everyday life. Have a look at the example from the Arts Law Centre of Australia - Artists-in-the-Black comic from here. Can you identify the components of the contract. Do you think the artist has grounds for legal action?
Have a look at some sample visual arts contracts here - here and here
3) Managing your project
An important part of managing your project is making sure at the contract negotiation stage that you -
High level project management requires a special set of skills & training. As emerging arts workers, you should attempt to develop some of these skills through professional development. Some of the skills & resources are found below -