Scotland’s Independent Culture Fair Work Taskforce was set up to look at how people working in the creative and cultural sectors are treated and to make work fairer. It was created in response to long-standing concerns about low pay, insecure freelance work, unpaid labour, and unequal access to opportunities.
The Taskforce brought together freelancers, unions, public and arts organisations, and other sector representatives. During 2025, it gathered evidence, listened to workers’ experiences, and studied models from other industries and countries. Ola Wojtkiewicz, Executive Director at Creative Edinburgh, was honoured to be part of the Taskforce, helping shape these ideas through the course of the year.
In early December 2025, the Taskforce released 16 recommendations to the Scottish Ministers to make life better for artists, freelancers, and creative workers. These recommendations aim to tackle the ongoing issues of insecure work and unfair pay that, unfortunately, many creatives face every day.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the key elements of the report that will be of interest to Creative Edinburgh members, creative freelancers and artists:
1. A better way to resolve disputes - a new system will be considered to help freelancers handle payment or contract problems safely and fairly.
2. Fair pay - everyone should be paid fairly, including for prep, travel, meetings, and creative work.
3. Pay transparency - organisations funded by public money should make pay and budgets clear so you know what to expect.
4. Clearer contracts - written agreements with realistic deadlines and protections against sudden cancellations should become the norm.
5. Creative Scotland support - Creative Scotland will take a bigger role in making sure Fair Work rules are followed.
6. A Fair Work Charter - this will be a guide that explains what Fair Work looks like in the culture and creative sector.
7. Protecting your work from AI misuse - creative ideas and projects can’t be taken by AI without your consent or proper credit.
8. Stopping unpaid internships and exploitative volunteering - early-career creatives shouldn’t have to work for free to start their careers.
9. Support for disabled and neurodivergent creatives - better access to venues, equipment, and fair treatment is needed.
10. Ending “rush culture” - realistic deadlines and planning to reduce stress and burnout should be considered.
11. Safety and respect at work - clear rules must be in place to prevent harassment and make workplaces safe for everyone.
12. Fairness and inclusion - tackling pay gaps and ensuring diversity in hiring and leadership are critical.
13. Opportunities to learn and grow - access to training, skill development, and professional support should be available for all creatives.
14. A stronger voice for freelancers - support is needed for unions, forums, and ways to make sure freelancers are heard.
15. A Fair Work resource hub - a central place with guides, templates, contracts, and tools for freelancers and small organisations will be considered.
16. Better data and accountability - collecting information about pay, freelance work, and inequalities to guide future policies is important.
These recommendations aim to create more stable, fair, and sustainable careers for artists and freelancers in Scotland. By following them, the creative sector can help make Scotland a Fair Work Nation by 2030.
You can read the full report here.
Creative Edinburgh will continue to champion these changes and support our members on their journey to understanding and benefiting from the Fair Work principles. In the future, we hope to organise information sessions and to share relevant resources to empower freelancers in the area of Fair Work.
If you have any questions, please contact Ola at ola@creative-edinburgh.com