Legislative Theatre Event on Fair Pay for Freelance Creatives on Benefits

Join us for an interactive participatory democracy event exploring how freelance artists & creatives who are on benefits can earn money Many artists and creatives face a difficult choice: accepting freelance work can put their benefits at risk, preventing them from progressing with their careers. At Arts & Homelessness International (AHI), this is a significant issue for many members of our community. Over the past few years, we have worked alongside the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Central England Law Centre, and the Arts and Social Outcomes Network to explore solutions and co-develop resources, including a benefits guide and manefesto. AHI operates with a shared leadership model, where 50% of our staff and board members have lived experience of homelessness. Decision-making is shared, and everyone in the organisation receives the same day rate, including trustees with lived experience. What to Expect You'll watch a short play co-created and performed by artists with lived experience of navigating benefits while building creative careers. Following the performance, you'll be invited to: • Take part in dialogue and creative interventions • Share your experiences and perspectives • Collaborate with artists, policymakers, and decision-makers • Co-create practical policy proposals for change Legislative Theatre is an innovative, joyful, and human rights-based method of participatory democracy developed by Augusto Boal. It brings together artists, audiences, and decision-makers to transform lived experience into policy change.This event will focus on fair pay for artists and freelancers receiving benefits, creating a space where citizens, policymakers, and sector leaders can work together to develop solutions.The Legislative Theatre Process will follow four simple steps: Watch the performance Act by intervening in the play Propose solutions and policy ideas Vote on proposals Who Should Attend? This event is for artists, freelancers, and creatives who receive benefits, as well as policymakers, DWP and Jobcentre staff, arts organisations, funders, unions, researchers, advocates, and anyone interested in creating fairer systems for artists and freelancers. Whether you bring lived experience, sector expertise, or a desire to support change, your perspective is welcome. Refreshments Light refreshments will be served from 12:15pm and the performance will begin promptly at 1:00pm. Accessibility • Wheelchair-accessible venue • Quiet space available for anyone who would like to step away from the main event This event is designed and facilitated by Arts & Homelessness International (AHI), funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundationand the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts and supported by Old Diorama Arts Centre. Tickets are free but we are accepting donations at the event and here on Eventbrite to cover some of the costs of the event.