Part of our Expanding Horizons series, this event explores the role of trade unions in the arts and culture sector for creative freelancers, artists, and employees.
Date
Tuesday 3 June 2025
Time
10 AM - 12 PM
Location
Main Hall at Kala Sangam
Bank House, 41 Bank St, Bradford BD1 1RD
This half-day event will explore the vital role of trade unions in the cultural and creative industries. Aimed at freelancers and employees working across Yorkshire in sectors such as visual arts, theatre, music, film, broadcast, journalism, museums and galleries, this session brings together major unions including Equity, The Musicians’ Union, Bectu, Artists’ Union England, National Union of Journalists, and The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain.
Trade unions are an important force in the workplace, with members of a trade union usually having better pay and conditions than non-unionised workplaces. Several trade unions represent workers in the cultural and creative sector – come and meet them and discuss what they have achieved and how they work for members.
This event will cover:
- What a trade union is and which unions represent creative and cultural workers
- How joining a trade union can make a difference
- The benefits of union membership
- Understanding contracts
- Working together and taking collective action
Participants will learn about the trade union most relevant to them and their work, and there will be a short presentation from each union, followed by a roundtable discussion and an opportunity for 1:1 advice sessions.
We may provide a bursary and cover travel and access costs to reduce barriers to attending this event. For more information and to apply, please see our FAQ section below.
Book your free place today
About the venue
Kala Sangam
Kala Sangam is a vibrant arts centre in Bradford, known for its diverse performance programme featuring local, national, and international artists, with a strong focus on music and dance. The venue also supports artists with rehearsal space, development support, and performance opportunities, and runs regular classes alongside education and outreach projects that celebrate cultural understanding.
About Expanding Horizons
Expanding Horizons is our bespoke business development and funding programme for creative and cultural organisations in the Bradford district. It offers personalised coaching, training and access to funding and is designed to empower organisations to grow and thrive in their creative ventures.
Expanding Horizons is hosted by Minoti Parikh. Minoti is a community artist and a trained classical Indian dancer working within communities across West Yorkshire. She has over 17 years of experience developing and implementing value-driven, strategic coaching support and training programmes for more than 100 organisations.
As a Coach and Consultant, Minoti has collaborated with senior leadership teams from large FTSE 100 companies, the NHS, local councils, universities, community groups and arts and culture organisations.
FAQs
If you need a bursary to cover your time, please complete our Bursary & Access Fund form. We offer bursaries of £50 for half-day development activities such as this.
To enable us to support as many artists as possible through our programmes, bursaries should only be requested if this is something you need, for example, if you are freelance or required to take unpaid leave to participate in the activity. If you work for an organisation, we would expect you to attend during your paid working hours.
Yes, we can cover travel and any other access costs that may otherwise present a barrier to you being able to participate in the activity. Access costs include things like childcare and other caring costs; BSL, language and other interpretation costs; as well as access support workers, or any other access costs you might face.
To apply for this funding, please complete a Bursary & Access Fund form once you have booked your place.
