Presentation slides, Saturday 3 October 2020

1. Welcome
Annual General Meeting
Saturday 3rd October 2020

2. Online Hosts:
Kirsten Body & Helen de Main
Our Highlands and Islands Learning
Organiser, Kirsten Body, will assist you
with finding your feet with Zoom, polls,
breakout rooms and any other technical
questions you may have.
SAU Secretary, Helen de Main, will
guide us through the Agenda.

3. 2.00 - 2.15 Using Zoom and Introductions
Kirsten Body: Highlands & Islands Learning Organiser
Helen de Main: Secretary – Apologies & 2019 Minutes
2.15 - 2.20 President’s Welcome: Lynda Graham
2.20 - 2.30 Finance Report
Treasurer: Angela Batheja & Finance Coordinator: Karen Vaughan
2.30 - 2.35 Nominations & Election of the Executive Committee
2.35 - 2.50 Introducing the Learning Programme Archive
Learning Programme Manager: Lauren Printy Currie
2.50 - 3.10 Break
3.10 - 3.25 Campaigns & Projects Report - Manager: Janie Nicoll
3.25 - 4.25 Motions and discussions
4.25 - 4.30 Closing remarks and thanks
Agenda

4. Approval of 2019 AGM Minutes
The minutes from the 2019 AGM are available on the
website for members to view. Lynda and Janie will talk
about actions that were taken following the 3 motions
that were passed in August 2019.
• Matters arising:
• Proposed:
• Seconded:

5. Lynda Graham - President

6. Lemm Sissay
One Day at a Time
‘How do you do it?' said night
‘How do you wake up and shine?'
‘I keep it simple’ said light
‘One day at a time’

7. Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!
On behalf of the Executive
Committee and staff team…
a big thank you to all our 1500
members for your ongoing
commitment to the union.
We know this is a challenging
time for many financially and
we appreciate your continued
support and solidarity.

8. Three mini surveys covering:
• Artists Safety Net Survey (Income)
• Artists Studio and Workspace Survey
• Universal Basic Income Survey
Covid-19: Surveying member needs

10. Highlighting the impact: Covid-19

11. Connecting & Lobbying with
STUC Culture Unions
MU
Equity
Bectu
NUJ
WWGB
SSP

12. Cobalt Collective
Campaign –
unions and artists
working together
COBOLT launched a poster campaign focusing on the
crucial role that key workers are playing in fighting the
Covid19 pandemic. The series of posters paying tribute to
vital key workers were installed in six different prominent
locations across Glasgow on Monday 1st of June 2020.
The campaign shows solidarity, support, and gratitude
towards Glasgow’s key workers during these particularly
straining times, injecting Glasgow’s streets with a strong,
uplifting message of positivity, optimism, and
encouragement, and serves an antidote to the bleakness of
many aspects of the coronavirus pandemic.
This campaign has been made possible with the help of the
Poster Associates who have donated their time and poster
sites free of charge, and also with the financial support of six
trade unions. The trade unions are: EIS, GMB, BMA, CWU,
FBU and SAU.
“As members of the Scottish Artists Union, we know the value and
importance of trade unions. COBOLT are aware of the crucial role
that unions have played and will continue to play in advocating for
fair pay, better working conditions, work place safety, and promoting
social justice in wider society. Recognising that the role of trade
unions has been fundamental and effective in supporting key
workers throughout this pandemic, we can think of no better group of
organisations to be supporting us on this project, and are delighted to
have them on board.” Cobalt Collective

15. Actions on 2019 AGM Motions
• Join the climate action school strikes - Union members attended the Climate Change marches
in Edinburgh, St Andrews and Glasgow; President Lynda Graham took part in Scottish Green
Party discussions and EC members have linked with Circular Arts Network (CAN) and the Just
and Green Recovery Campaign.
What’s coming up next? - Artists and Climate Change events online during November 2020.
• WASPS Studio issues - We have been in an ongoing dialogue with WASPS on the issues raised
around rent inconsistencies. Events around Covid-19 over shadowed the original issues as studio
closures during lockdown took precedence. The correspondence with WASPS has been shared
with members on the website.
• Remote access to union meetings - finally, pre Covid-19 we had begun to trial our EC meetings
online and this was working well in some instances. By March this year all meetings and Learning
Events had moved to an online format. Whilst it has been a challenge at time to keep up with all
the different platforms this has meant we have been able to engage and connect with our
membership in a while new way and it has been very positive – even though we’re Zoomed out!!

16. Arts and Sustainability

18. Covid-19 impact on the Union:
• Annual membership fee renewal
• Learning Programme moved online
• All staff and Executive Committee
working from home
• Projects paused
A big Thank You to our staff team and
Executive Committee for all the hard
work during this challenging year.
A big Thank You to all our 1500
members for your continued
commitment to the union.

19. Staff Team
Membership Administrative Team: Fiona Danskin and Meg Held
Finance and Projects Manager: Gordon Dickson (to July 2020)
Finance Coordinator: Karen Vaughan (freelance from July 2020)
Projects and Campaigns Manager: Janie Nicoll (freelance from July 2020)
Learning Programme Manager (Lowlands and Uplands): Lauren Printy Currie
Learning Programme Organiser (Highlands and Islands): Kirsten Body
Artists’ Spaces Mapping Survey Project: Chris Biddlecombe (freelance)

20. Changes to the EC office bearers: Karen Vaughan temporarily stepped down as Treasurer in July 2020 and
Angela Batheja is currently acting Treasurer. The EC want to express their thanks to Karen for all the work
she has done in her role as Treasurer, keeping us on track with all our financial governance and making our
systems accessible and supporting the union through these challenging times.
Thanks also to Lilian Ptacek and Caitlin Merrit King who stepped down from the EC this year. Lilian
contributed her skills and knowledge to the Newsletter/Covid-19 sub group – thanks for all the hard work!
Current Executive Committee
Office Bearers
President: Lynda Graham
Vice President: Vacant
Secretary: Helen de Main
Treasurer: Angela Batheja
EC members: Janie Nicoll; Robert Singer; BD Owens; Fadzai Hamburgh Mwakutuya;
Ailie Rutherford; Saskia Singer

21. Sub Groups within the Union…
We welcome new members to come and get involved.
Put your name in the chat box now or email us to get started.
Current Sub Groups:
Membership Recruitment
Finance
Staffing
Newsletters/Campaigns
Intersectional (Diversity, Equality, Inclusion)
Sub Groups in Development:
Youth/Graduates
Health & Safety
Sustainability/Environmental Issues
Sub groups meet separately,
feed back and report to the
main Executive Committee
Meetings. They give the
opportunity for you to get
involved in an issue you are
passionate about and feel you
want to concentrate on. It’s a
good way to ease into the wider
work of the union. You may not
have time to commit to the
main EC, so this is a way to just
focus on a specific role.

22. Looking Forward:
• A new campaign focused around the Scottish Parliamentary Elections in
2021…more about this later.
• Recruit, recruit, recruit! Union members and Executive Committee activists.
• Further development of our sub groups.
• Fundraising and looking at options around a Hardship Fund.
• Continuing to develop our amazing Learning Programme.
• Continuation of Fair Work Contracts and Artists’ Spaces Research.
• Celebrate our 21st birthday!

23. Approval of the Financial Report 2019/20
Financial Report
Treasurer: Angela Batheja
Finance Coordinator: Karen Vaughan

24. Scottish Artists Union
Income and Expenditure Account
For the year ended 31 March 2020
Notes 2020 2019
£ £
Income
Subscription received 1b 85,812 67,915
Grants received 53,750 41,300
Other income 1c 657 1,093
Total income 140,219 110,308
Expenditure
Development work/projects:
Annual conference costs 8,655 948
Publicity and marketing 3,139 6,926
Research and project expenses 12,176 25,217
23,970 33,091
Administration:
Telephone, print, post and stationery 3,961 4,715
Rent, rates and insurance 19,442 15,143
Travelling expenses 1d 4,141 1,786
Grants received 53,750 41,300
Other income 1c 657 1,093
Total income 140,219 110,308
Expenditure
Development work/projects:
Annual conference costs 8,655 948
Publicity and marketing 3,139 6,926
Research and project expenses 12,176 25,217
23,970 33,091
Administration:
Telephone, print, post and stationery 3,961 4,715
Rent, rates and insurance 19,442 15,143
Travelling expenses 1d 4,141 1,786
Executive Freelance fees 1e 5,720 1,253
Subscriptions 3,360 753
Accountancy fees 7,920 12,552
Audit fee 1,434 1,442
Legal and Professional fees 222 6,435
Bank charges 2,064 1,650
Wages and staff training 62,516 52,805
Website costs 984 312
Other expenses 558 1,011
Depreciation 557 489
112,879 100,346
Total expenditure 136,849 133,437
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year 3,370 (23,129)
There are no recognised gains or losses other than the surplus for the year, and no acquisitions or
discontinued operations in the year.

25. Election of the Executive
Committee for 2020/21
Nominations received from:
Lynda Graham
Janie Nicoll
Helen de Main
Angela Batheja
BD Owens
Fadzai Hamburgh Mwakutuya
Robert Singer
Ailie Rutherford
Saskia Singer
Rosa Moxham
Sean Mallon

26. Learning Programme Presentation
Lauren Printy Currie: Programme Manager

27. See you at 3:10pm
Break

28. Campaigns and Projects Report
Janie Nicoll: Campaigns and Projects Manager

29. Since the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic we have undertaken 3 members surveys. We needed to know
how you have been affected by Covid-19, so we could give up to date, accurate information to politicians.
Artists Safety Net Survey
Artists Studio and Workspace Survey
Universal Basic Income Survey

30. Your feedback…
In the first weeks of the pandemic we
received powerful testimonies of the
effect the lockdown was having on
your working lives.
We used these to support our press
campaign, in meetings with Scottish
Government and sector organisations.
THANK YOU!
As a self-employed textile designer with a new start up business I am not eligible for Government support.
Universal credit will barely scratch the surface of personal and business bills to be paid (most of my initial
outlay was on a credit card that I now rely on for essential purchases). I’ve only been operating since
November 2018 so unlikely to be eligible for any of the financial assistance that might be available.I am one of
those people, who have been a sole trader/freelance self-employed for under one year. I don’t qualify for any
financial emergency help from the government except universal credit.As a collective I guess we are falling
through the cracks of officialdom. I will await the letter from HMRC to put in a claim as I have filled in self-
assessments over the last three years. But I am not sure how this works and it will definitely not cover my
losses. Not eligible for any government support (no business rates as we work from home, business
partnership is only three years old and has two years of trading losses, with only a small profit, so average
over 3 years is still a minus figure) I cannot apply for Self-Employed Income Support Scheme due to income
made by self-employed is less than half. I do not qualify for Universal Credit either. I also can’t apply for
Creative Scotland Bridge Fund as I am not eligible as I work PT as an educational professional.My partner is
currently working so I am not eligible for Universal Credit.I doubt if I will qualify for the government’s scheme. I
earn roughly half of my income from teaching, just over £10,000 per annum. I might be lucky and find that for
the past three years my income as a self-employed artist has been slightly more than half, but I doubt it.I am
self-employed as an artist but also employed in another part-time capacity, I make about one third of my
income as a self-employed artist. This, as I understand it, means that I won't be eligible for support from the
government as a self-employed worker.It is ludicrous that the Government expects self-employed people to
have several months reserve to cover until June. We know that the business can apply for the £10,000
government grant (as soon as the City of Edinburgh Council completes our registration for rates) but that
money will all go to our landlord, utilities, suppliers, etc. In the meantime, there is nothing for us to live off of.
I can't get the 80% wage support, and worry that getting only a portion of the profit from self-employment
income will leave me with nothing to live off of.
Covid-19 Impact

31. 31
A R T I S T S S A F E T Y N E T S U R V E Y
Over half of respondents (53%) said they were not eligible for any Government Support.
Over 67% of respondents said they had changed their approach to working a lot or a great deal.

32. Over half (54%) of those who responded were relying on family, friends or their savings.
A R T I S T S S A F E T Y N E T S U R V E Y

33. We set up a survey over ten days in
June 2020 to look at issues relating
to studios and shared workspaces,
with a focus on those who rent their
studio or working spaces.
This survey was open to all artists
living and working in Scotland (both
union and non-union members).
We had 132 artists who replied.
The majority of respondents were
Scottish Artists Union members,
88% (116 in total) and 12% were
non-union members (16).
STUDIO AND WORKSPACE SURVEY

34. About 1 in 5 (33 out of 152) respondents listed their landlord as WASPS Studios.
Other studio providers included Out Of the Blue Arts & Education Trust; Create Ltd,
Edinburgh City Council; Glasgow Sculpture Studios; Fire Station Creative; City
Property Investments, Glasgow; Crownpoint Developments, amongst other private
landlords.
When asked if they were
paying for a workspace
that they could not access,
40 respondents (31%) said
that this was the case.
STUDIO AND WORKSPACE SURVEY

35. UNI V ERS A L BA S I C I NC O M E S URV EY

36. UNI V ERS A L BA S I C I NC O M E S URV EY

37. 37
SCOTTISH ARTISTS UN ION
www.artistsunion.scot
FACEBOOK: scottishartistsunion
INSTAGRAM: artistsunion.scot
TWITTER: @SCOartistsunion
LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEW CAMPAIGN

38. Motions
Put any motions you’d like to raise in the chat box.
All motions will be discussed in breakout rooms before voting.
Only Full Artists Members are allowed to vote.

39. Motion 1
This Union notes that the lack of thorough provision for self-employed workers from the current UK
government during the current Covid 19 pandemic, has highlighted the shortcomings and the gaps
in the current welfare system. This crisis has hit the cultural sector particularly hard and we fear that
the current situation is not sustainable. Over 80% of the membership of SAU are self-employed and
through our recent survey we have found that 53% of artists surveyed were not in receipt of
government support, leaving them in dire financial situations with many relying on financial support
from family, friends or their savings.
This Union believes that the introduction of a Universal Basic Income for all citizens,
will particularly benefit creativity, and help to make the careers of artists more sustainable, and that
it will make life more bearable for artists and their families.
This Union resolves to campaign for UBI at all levels of government, locally and nationally in order
to achieve an overhaul of the current benefits system and a reassessment of the way the state funds
the arts and artists.

40. Motion 2
This Union notes the crucial and important role that the President plays as a figurehead of the
Union, campaigning and advocating on behalf of members, as well as the structural importance they
play within the organisation supporting staff, executive and members.
This Union believes that to ensure the sustainability and growth of this important role it must move
from a voluntary to a paid position.
This Union resolves to put in place the necessary changes to the constitution to enable this role to
be paid, and to put in place the infrastructure and due process whereby the president is voted in, in
a manner that is transparent and robust, serving the needs of the organisation and its membership
at all points.

41. Motion 3
This Union notes that the Executive Committee have to make decisions concerning union matters
throughout the year between the AGM’s. However sometimes there are decisions to make that can
only be passed in a motion at an AGM.
This Union believes that if there is an urgent, and time sensitive, matter that would normally be only
allowed to be voted upon and passed in a motion at an AGM, that this may slow down the affective
working of the Union and impair the continuing responsibilities of the SAU Executive, sub-
committees and staff.
This Union resolves to make an online system of membership consultation which is followed by an
online ballot in order to speed up the process of decision making on issues that are time sensitive
and that would normally only be passed by a motion at the AGM. Such a system would be an online
survey detailing the issue to membership, the results of the survey then made available to the
membership, then an online ballot to finalise the motion.

42. Motion 4
This Union notes that the membership criteria is out dated and does not completely align with the
current status of the visual art sector, craft and applied arts sector in Scotland.
This Union believes that there is a need to update the membership criteria in order to include many
working artists, applied artists and also workers in visual arts and craft sector organisations who do
not fit the current membership criteria.
This Union resolves to bring together a working group which will consult with the members. This
working group will draft new and a more inclusive membership criteria so that a greater number of
working artists, applied artists and workers in the visual arts and craft sector in Scotland can
become SAU members and benefit from Trade Union representation.

43. Thank you to all those we
have worked with this year:
• Geoghegans - Auditors
• Alterledger Ltd - Accountants
• Thompsons Solicitors
• Cloch Solicitors Ltd - Philip Hannay
• Scottish Union Learning
• Scottish Trade Union Congress
(STUC)
• Creative Scotland
• SCAN & Engage
• Culture Unions: Musicians Union
(MU); Equity; Bectu; NUJ; Scottish
Playrights (SSP); Writers Workshop
(WWGB)
• Citizens Basic Income Network
Scotland (CBINS)
• Friends of GSA
• WASPS Studios

44. Closing Remarks