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Refusing to be taken for granted: The Poets' Network for fairer pay
A recent canvass by Poets’ Network reveals that writers are deeply unhappy about being paid peanuts or not at all for public work. Tamar Yoseloff and Kate Fox explain
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A group of poets from both the performance and education sectors are calling for the formation of a Poets’ Network, with the aim of establishing a body to advise on best practice and fair pay for professional writers.
The idea stemmed from a thread begun on Facebook, in which many poets who offer their services either by giving public readings, running writing workshops, or supplying work for commissions, were unhappy that they are often asked to provide content for free, sometimes to public bodies or arts festivals where there is sufficient funding to pay artists or contributors.
As a result of these conversations, the Poets Network has devised a survey, asking key questions about how poets see their role in the community and what their concerns are regarding fees and public perception.
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