The aim of this research project is to gather information about the working lives of freelancers in dance and the contribution they make to the sector. Funded by One Dance UK through Arts Council England, the project aims to provide up-to-date knowledge about the working lives of freelancers, their support needs, the various forms of contributions they make and their psychological wellbeing.

The key research areas addressed in the project are:

• Updating knowledge and statistics about typical roles in a freelance and/or portfolio career
• Gaining insight into the contribution of freelance workers to their communities and the wider dance sector
• Evaluating organisational support structures and services, and how they can best respond to the needs of freelance workers
• Understanding psychological characteristics, particularly wellbeing and resilience

The findings of the project will be used to inform workforce strategy and provide support for freelancers based on gaps in current provision.

A pre-print of the report is available [PDF] This pre-print was submitted to One Dance UK in February 2019. The research was approved by the University of Bedfordshire Ethics Committee and all data is anonymised. Any views expressed in the report are those of the authors and not the commissioning body or funders.