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.John West
ChairARTSupervising Art Director
Marcus Levers-George
Vice ChairARTAssistant Art Director
Helen Koutas
SecretaryGRAPHICSGraphic Art Director
Grace Taylor
Vice SecretaryARTDraughtsperson
Keelia Fitzpatrick
Bectu Union OfficialCOMMUNICATIONS
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
EJ Grainger
SET DECLocation Set DecoratorRosalind Gegoire
ARTArt Director
EMAILS
Kathy Heaser
GRAPHICSGraphic Art DirectorHelen Koutas
GRAPHICSGraphic Art DirectorHelen Xenopoulou
ARTArt DirectorMay Davies
ARTProduction DesignerNEWSLETTER
James Cura
ARTAssistant Art DirectorJohn West
ARTSupervising Art DirectorHelen Xenopoulou
ARTArt DirectorSOCIAL MEDIA
James Bartlett
SET DECAssistant BuyerEJ Grainger
SET DECLocation Set DecoratorRox Gregoire
ARTAssistant Art DirectorMEMBERSHIP & RECRUITMENT
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.ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
Grace Taylor
ARTDraughtersonJUNIOR GRADES
Committee positions available. Get in touch if you're a BECTU member and interests you
AWARENESS & LEARNING
Fleur Whitlock
ARTArt DirectorRoz Gregoire
ArtAssistant Art DirectorJohn West
ARTSupervising Art DirectorEQUALITY & DIVERSITY
Helen Zenopoulou
ARTArt DirectorNEGOTIATIONS
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
Kathy Heaser
GRAPHICSGraphic Art DirectorMAJOR MOTION PICTURES
Kathy Heaser
GRAPHICSGraphic Art DirectorTV DRAMA
Eleonore Cremonese
ARTArt DirectorJohn West
ARTSupervising Art DirectorMargaret Spöhrer
ARTArt DirectorLOW BUDGET ACTION PLAN
Alex Roberston
ARTArt DirectorNeneh Lucia
ARTAssistant Art DirectorMay Davies
ARTProduction DesignerRATECARD
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.'