A new campaign launched by the Creators’ Rights Alliance (CRA) is urging publishers and others that use the work of creative freelancers to pay them “professionally and promptly” for their work. The “Pay the Creator” (or #PayTheCreator) campaign asks that creators “be given the same considerations enjoyed by other workers in the areas of pay, business support and policy making.”
The CRA is a UK-based alliance which unites organisations and associations with the aim “to promote, protect, and further the interests of creators through policy, advocacy, and campaigning work.” There are more than 20 member organisations co-operating on the “Pay the Creator” campaign, including the Society of Authors, Musicians Union, Directors UK, Chartered Institute of Journalists and the Writers Guild of Great Britain, among others.
The aims of the campaign are to ensure that: creative workers are paid on time for their work; that their pay reflects their contributions and skill; that their contributions to creative industries, the UK economy and the public’s wellbeing are recognised; that they are put at the heart of decision making processes for policy in government and the creative industries.
In a statement, Society of Authors CEO Nicola Solomon said: “It’s always unacceptable to expect creators to receive ‘exposure’ or ‘experience’ in place of payments, but this has become especially prevalent throughout the pandemic.”
“Our creative freelancers are a key cornerstone of our economy, providing important creativity, knowledge, and expertise. Without them our books, films, magazines, television, film, theatre and music venues would be empty, devoid of content.”
“They’ve been dismissed far too long as irrelevant and unimportant to those who use their services and work, as well as to policy decision-makers. This must stop.”
