The Committee

An Introduction

The Art Department Branch is an umbrella title that covers Art Dept, Set Dec, Graphics and Drapes. Our branch of Bectu has over 500 members and is growing everyday.

The Committee is a group of volunteers from the industry who stand to represent our branch at meetings and in negotiations. Our Committee consists of members from across Art, Set Decoration, Graphics and Drapes, and from across all grades from Supervising Art Director to Petty Cash Buyer to Graphic Designer to Junior Draughtsperson. After our highest ever turnout at our AGM, our Committee Membership increased to 48 Members voted in by the Branch.

What does the Committee do?

We meet regularly throughout the year to discuss and highlight the issues that face us as a department working in today's Film, TV, Low Budget and Commercials industries. In addition to the committee meetings, we hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM), which are open to non-members as well as members.

We all volunteer our time to go to meetings and take on the different roles. We have one BECTU official who helps us run the branch.

How can I join the Committee?

A new committee is voted in each year at the BECTU Art Department Branch AGM by the branch members.

In accordance with our bylaws Committee members can restand in the same position for 4 consecutive years.

If you are interested in joining the committee, please get in touch as members can also be co-opted throughout the year. Please email info@bectuartdepartment.co.uk

The Committee Structure

Our Committee is made up of 4 quadrants, and within each quadrant there are Work Groups that consist of 3-10 Committee Members.

Meet the current Committee

Below are the members of our Committee, including the Chairs, Vice Chairs and Secretary.

CORE

These Roles keep the Art Department Committee informed and organise meetings.

UNION OFFICIAL

Jane Perry is the BECTU official who deals with the Art Department Branch, along with other departments.

CHAIR

Provides leadership and a face to the Committee. Guides meetings down an agenda and helps to organise members effectively.

VICE-CHAIR

Generally assists with the running of the Committee and assisting the Chair wherever possible. Will chair meetings if the Chair is unavailable.

SECRETARY

Manages communication within the Committee. In charge of taking and distributing the minutes, keeping a register, sending out the agenda, passing on key information from BECTU to the committee and liaising with Chair, Vice-Chair, Union Official.

Jane Perry

Bectu Union Official

Fabrice Spelta

Co-ChairSupervising Art Director

Kevin Timon Hill

Co-ChairArt Director

John West

Co-Vice ChairArt Director

Jon Ziman-Bright

Co-Vice ChairAssistant Art Director

Tom Coxon

Co-Vice ChairJunior Draughtsperson

Grace Taylor

SecretaryJunior Draughtsperson

COMMUNICATIONS

These Work Groups keep the wider Art Department Branch informed of ongoing campaigns, surveys, deals and discussions.

WEBSITE

Manages all content put out by the Committee Work Groups to the wider branch membership.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Manages all content put out by the Committee Work Groups to the wider branch membership.

EMAILS & NEWSLETTER

Produces a Quartley Newsletter. Manages all content put out by the Committee Work Groups to the wider branch membership.

MEMBERSHIP & RECRUITMENT

This Work Group is a first for the Branch and is about active recruitment within Colleges, Schools and Higher educational institutes.A key feature of this Work Group would be to organise talks and presentations at these institutes.Accessing a wider section of society is a new area that this branch and the industry is trying to develop as a whole. The Work Group would have a crucial part in organising our stalls and Speakers at the Annual Freelance Fair. Current lead institutes and points of call will be BAFTA and the BFI to build relationships and resources.

WEBSITE

Celene McDowell

ARTAssistant Art Director
__________________________________

Jon Ziman-Bright

ART
Assistant Art Director

Grace Taylor

ARTJunior Draughtsperson
__________________________________

Kathy Heaser

GRAPHICS
Key Graphic Designer

Harriet Plaskitt

SET DECPetty Cash / Assistant Buyer
__________________________________

Ruta Daubure

GRAPHICS
Graphic Designer

EMAILS & NEWSLETTER

Aoife Flynn

SET DECProduction Buyer
__________________________________

Harriet Plaskitt

SET DECPetty Cash / Assistant Buyer

Charlotte Leatherland

ARTAssistant Art Director
__________________________________

John West

ARTArt Director

Grace Taylor

ARTJunior Draughtsperson

SOCIAL MEDIA

Jess Esmond

SET DECProduction Buyer

Tom Coxon

ARTJunior Draughtsperson

MEMBERSHIP & RECRUITMENT

Flo Tasker

GRAPHICSGraphic Designer

Jess Esmond

SET DEC
Production Buyer

Kimberley McBeath

SET DECSet Decorator

BETTER PRACTICES

These Work Groups concentrate on improving practices within the Art Department work environment.

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Representing the Art Department in issues of sustainability and climate change.

NEW DEAL BETTER MANAGEMENT

Better management of workers, better scheduling, arbitration scheme for disputes. Greener Working. Professional training framework. Agreed nationwide professional standards in craft areas. Financial provision for training staff. One-sided contracts vs Agreements.

SAFETY & WELFARE // NEW DEAL WELFARE

Work-Life balance. Provision for caring commitments. Better Health & Safety standards. Blocking bullying behaviours. Strategies to improve workplace mental health. Family-friendly working (job-shares etc).

JUNIOR GRADES

This Work Group is involved with the BECTU Young Members Forum and the Trade Union Conference (TUC). They represent all junior members which is anyone 35 and under, earning less than £1400 a week, or has been in the industry for less than 3 years.

LEARNING

This role will be about training within the industry. This will be about professional development, about having the tools and understanding in order to progress correctly through the department.

EQUALITY & DIVERSITY // NEW DEAL EQUALITY & DIVERSITY

Gender pay equality, provision for parental rights and “return to work” provision. Fair hiring practices. Protection from discrimination. Better entry-level pay. BAME inclusion. Low income groups.

SUSTAINABILITY

Claire Fleming

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

Sophie Hervieu

SET DECSet Decorator

Mairi Claire Bowser

SET DECAssistant Set Decorator
__________________________________

Netty Chapman

SET DECSenior Assistant Set Decorator

NEW DEAL

BETTER MANAGEMENT

Alex Robertson

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

Laura Ng

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

Mary Buri

ARTStandby Art Director

Chloe Kletsa

ARTAssistant Art Director
__________________________________

Liz Griffiths

SET DECSet Decorator
__________________________________

Dominic Sikking

GRAPHICSGraphic Art Director
__________________________________

Margaret Spöhrer

ARTArt Director

SAFETY & WELFARE

Alex Roberton

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

Kamlan Man

SET DECSenior Assistant Set Decorator
__________________________________

Sophie Powell

GRAPHICSGraphic Art Director

Aoife Flynn

SET DECProduction Buyer
__________________________________

Laura Ng

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

Jamie Burrows

ARTSenior Draughtsperson
__________________________________

Max Berman

ARTConcept Artist
__________________________________

JUNIOR GRADES

Alice Mayhew

SET DECAssistant Buyer
__________________________________

May Davies

ARTAssistant Art Director

Clarissa Livock

SET DECSet Dec Assistant
__________________________________

Ruta Daubure

GRAPHICSGraphic Designer

Harriet Plaskitt

SET DECPetty Cash / Assistant Buyer
__________________________________

Tom Coxon

ARTJunior Draughtsperson

LEARNING

Claire Fleming

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

Liam Georgensen

ARTArt Director

Claire Richards

SET DECSet Decorator

Jamie Burrows

ARTSenior Draughtsperson

EQUALITY & DIVERSITY

Abigail Alvarez

SET DECPetty Cash Buyer
__________________________________

Grace Taylor

ARTJunior Draughtsperson
__________________________________

Kimberley McBeath

SET DECSet Decorator

Clarissa Livock

SET DECSet Dec Assistant
__________________________________

Harriet Plaskitt

SET DECPetty Cash / Assistant Buyer
__________________________________

Neneh Lucia

ARTAssistant Art Director

Florence Tasker

GRAPHICSGraphic Designer
__________________________________

Helen Xenopoulou

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

NEGOTIATIONS

These Work Groups are taking part in negotiations for a better future in our industry.

IR35 & TAX

Updates the committee with IR35 and tax related updates and maintains the line of communication with BECTU’s Research and Freelance Officer Tony Lennon. Recognising the precarious nature of “freelance PAYE”. Discussion around Zero Hours Contracts/Guaranteed Hours Contracts. Acknowledging the genuine Self-employed status of most people in Film and TV who describe themselves as “freelancers”. Stopping employers from stipulating that some crew work as Ltd. Companies. Employment rights for freelance and precarious workers eg. Pensions, Income Protection Schemes, Contracts prior to engagement, Fair dismissal and disciplinary terms, freedom for bullying and blacklisting.

MAJOR MOTION PICTURES

Knows the Major Motion Picture Agreement well and can answer questions about it with authority. Compiles changes the committee wants amended to the MMP Agreement and attends negotiations with PACT to negotiate for our changes. Reports back to the Committee with results and developments. This includes the “Workshop Hours” campaign we are running alongside other branches.

TV DRAMA

Knows the TV Drama Agreement well and can answer questions about it with authority. Compiles changes the committee wants amended to the TV Drama Agreement and attends negotiations with PACT to negotiate for our changes. Reports back to the Committee with results and developments.

LOW BUDGET ACTION PLAN

Knows the Low Budget Action Plan well and can answer questions about it with authority. Compiles changes the committee wants amended to the Low Budget Action Plan and relays this information to those creating it. Reports back to the Committee with results and developments.

NEW DEAL INCOME PROECTION & JOB SECURITY

A single income protection scheme supported by the industry with contributory payments. Better job security, more and better notice and cancellation terms. Fairer use of dailies.

NEW DEAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Hours & Rate: Rate Cards, Minimum Standards, Overtime rules, travel time etc. Workplace representation. Health and Safety Reps.

IR35 & TAX

Jackie Yau

SET DECSenior Assistant Set Decorator
__________________________________

Thomas Love

GRAPHICSGraphic Art Director

Kathy Heaser

GRAPHICSGraphic Art Director

Kevin Timon-Hill

ARTArt Director

MAJOR MOTION PICTURES

Chloe Kletsa

ARTAssistant Art Director
__________________________________

Marie Isabel

SET DECAssistant Set Decorator

Kathy Heaser

GRAPHICSGraphic Art Director
__________________________________

Sophie Powell

GRAPHICSGraphic Art Director

Liam Georgensen

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

Tom Coxon

ARTJunior Draughtsperson

TV DRAMA

Eleonore Cremonese

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

Thomas Love

GRAPHICSGraphic Art Director

Fabrice Spelta

ARTSupervising Art Director

Margaret Spöhrer

ARTArt Director

LOW BUDGET ACTION PLAN

Alex Roberston

ARTArt Director
__________________________________

Neneh Lucia

ARTAssistant Art Director

Fabrice Spelta

ARTSupervising Art Director
__________________________________

Sophie Powell

GRAPHICSGraphic Art Director

May Davies

ARTAssistant Art Director

NEW DEAL

INCOME PROTECTION & JOB SECURITY

Claire Richards

SET DECSet Decorator

Elenore Cremonese

ARTArt Director

Isona Rigau Heras

ARTStandby Art Director

NEW DEAL

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Fabrice Spelta

ARTSupervising Art Director

__________________________________

Liam Georgensen

ARTArt Director

Isona Rigau Heras

ARTStandby Art Director
__________________________________

Mary Buri

ARTStandby Art Director

Laura Ng

ARTArt Director



Testimonials

What it's like to be on the Committee from a Committee Member

'I joined the committee because I didn't want to complain for the rest of my life about our working conditions and not do something about it. I also want people starting out to have the help and guidance I wish I'd had."

'I joined BECTU and the Committee to try and help make a change, and help to represent people in Junior Grades and in Set Dec to ensure their voices and issues were heard. The more people who get involved, the stronger we are.'

'I firmly believe that if you want something changed, you need to join and help make that change. I joined BECTU to have a wider support network, share ideas of how we can improve working conditions, and hopefully better the industry for myself, existing colleagues and new entrants.'