Karli - the wording is perhaps a self-sealing universe but what we mean is, that by signing up to the charter you will form part of the “initial members” whose opinions and ideas we will seek: both in the formation of the up-coming membership offer and in that we will actively seek opinions and research from the signatories to the charter. So in signing up to the charter you put a stake in the sand that says “my voice counts” - and the operation of the CR going forward shouldm make that voice count.

And yes, Emily, sole traders (PARTICULARLY sole traders, you are the people who get heard least of all), trainers and consultants working in the field, academics and funders all have a part to play. We just ask you to identify your field so that we can represent the views we find with more accuracy and spot trends in different disciplines etc.

So yes - JOIN US - http://www.creativerepublic.org/charter - and engage the process that will have your voice heard.

I am sorry I didn’t make it down last night but as you know I had clients to see.

I know I could just ask you (again!) about this but it might be helpful to other people in my position to ask it here…

Does this include people like me, working on their own as a photographer for example? Or is it for people doing creative/cultural jobs in larger organisations or who are leading or enabling creative and cultural things to happen? Funding bodies, support organizations, consultants etc.

I haven’t been at all sure since you started working on this whether I should/would/could be in or out of Creative Republic and I guess you haven’t been able to answer until perhaps now…??

Thank you!

I’m a little confused by part of the charter:

“By signing up to this Charter, it enables us to say that we represent your views.”

Reading the rest of it, it doesn’t actually say anything about what CR would actually do. Of course, everything that you say CR believes in etc. is all well and good, but surely any organisation like this will have aims and objectives, and those don’t seem to be laid out. So, I couldn’t say for sure if these views would be things that I’d necessarily agree with…

Of course, I’m fairly sure that you aren’t intending a right-wing police state with all workers in non-creative industries condemned to labour away in the paint mines, but maybe you need to be a bit more specific about what your vision is?

Sorry I didn’t make it along last night - was in meetings until about 11 PM again!

Cheers,

Karli

Thanks for that - perhaps it’s not clear enough.

This is open to anyone who considers themselves as working in a creative or cultural role or organisation in Birmingham and the region, as well as people who are just interested in supporting what we are doing. We’re throwing the net wide - and over time we hope to be representative of as wide a group of people as possible.

Stef

Those that “make our living in the sector” include all the admin, legal, support etc. staff who make up a substantial part of the figures you quote. And of course there are more creative workers in the non-creative sector than the creative sector.

I’m taking it you want all the above to sign up? If so then that’s genuinely a huge number and can only add value to your organisation and help make it a success.

Dave