[B-SIDE Podcast] Protecting artists and valuing creativity
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Jennifer Lee-Bonto, executive director of Artists鈥 Welfare Project Inc. (AWPI), speaks to聽大象传媒聽reporter Beatriz Marie D. Cruz about pursuing your passion while paying attention to the practicalities of life.
AWPI was founded in 2007 as a help desk for artists who, prior to the founding of AWPI, had to pass the hat every time the aches and pains of performing would catch up with them.
TAKEAWAYS
The ‘starving artist’ clich茅 is dangerous and should be thrown out.
Ms. Bonto called for end of the stereotypical view of freelancer artists suffering for their art.
鈥淲e just need to stop the notion that we are 鈥楤ohemian鈥, [that] we are 鈥榮tarving artists.鈥 … We have to stop 鈥榮tarving鈥 鈥斅 it鈥檚 not fashionable,” she said
Insist on a contract.
Contracts protect both sides by defining the scope of work and deliverables as well as terms of compensation.
鈥淚f you hire them [artists], don鈥檛 think that it鈥檚 a hobby for them. You have to value them as professionals,鈥 Ms. Bonto said.聽鈥淕ive them a proper contract and pay them on time.鈥
Digitization is both blessing and bane.
Technology paved the way for more job opportunities outside the 9鈥5 office setup but, at the same time, created issues surrounding copyright, intellectual property rights, and more.
鈥淭he digital world is part good, but we still need to address some respect and protection issues,鈥 said Ms. Bonto.
Recorded remotely in January 2023. Produced by聽Joseph Emmanuel L. Garcia聽补苍诲听Sam L. Marcelo.
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