1st Edition
Bullying in the Arts Vocation, Exploitation and Abuse of Power
Diva, Prima Donna, Maestro, Virtuoso: creative geniuses with the ability to deliver artistic excellence. However this perception can serve to tilt the balance of power in relationships and to substantiate the notion of artistic temperament; the Master is always right and the Diva must have her way. The artistic genius may be hell to work with but the end result (the art) is exceptional, so behaviour deemed unacceptable in normal circumstances must be tolerated. If the corporate culture in the arts is in thrall to the concept of the artistic genius, then across the various disciplines within the creative sector the prevailing mentality may be subscribing to a set of values that allows, even directly encourages, behaviour and employment conditions that are abusive. Bullying in the Arts argues that this mindset can have a profoundly negative effect in performing arts organisations, permitting managers and other staff to ignore bullying behaviour, as long as the show goes on. Researchers in a range of disciplines and fields have studied workplace bullying and, having witnessed bullying in a number of different arts organisations, Anne-Marie Quigg researched whether the behaviour represented isolated, rare occurrences in specific creative environments or if it was indicative of a more widespread problem in the arts and cultural sector. She discovered the highest level of bullying recorded in any single employment sector in the UK. Bullying in the Arts reveals Dr Quigg's findings, including the personal, organisational, legal and economic consequences of bullying behaviour. Looking at the experiences of countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Sweden, and the United States, this book challenges the notion that the arts are beyond the limitations of the ordinary milieu, exempt from the rules and regulations governing the treatment of employees. Arts managers and professionals, teachers, students and researchers in the arts world, and all those in management or management education, will find here a new model centred on management responses to bullying behaviour, which demonstrates the beneficial effect that knowledgeable, skilled action can have on the outcome of bullying incidents.
Biography
Dr Anne-Marie Quigg is a Director of Jackson Quigg Associates (UK), consultants specialising in Arts Management, Creative Industries and Community Development. She is a Guest Lecturer on MA courses in Cultural Policy and Management, at City University, London. Dr Quigg has a BA in English from Queens University, Belfast and a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Administration from City University, London, where she also gained her PhD. in the Department of Cultural Policy and Management, studying workplace bullying in the arts. Anne-Marie Quigg has been a regional and community arts officer and a theatre and arts centre administrator and director. She has been and is a committee member, trustee and chair of, and an adviser to, a large number of community and arts organisations throughout the UK. She has written journal articles and papers for international conferences.
A Yankee Book Peddler UK Core Title for 2011 'After reading Anne-Marie Quigg's wonderful and informative book 'Bullying in the Arts' I was so inspired and motivated, that I wrote and submitted a Motion for my Union Equity, proposing that the Federation of Entertainment Unions hold a Symposium on the subject. The Motion was subsequently carried at a very well attended London Area AGM, and adopted as the London Area's Motion for the Annual Representative Conference to be held in May. Anne-Marie Quigg's book throws so much light on the issue there is no hiding place for the 'Bullies'.' Billy McColl, Independent Arts and Crafts Professional 'In this provocative and well-evidenced book, the author shows how managerial "bullying" is just as rife in the (people-centred) arts sector as it is in the industrial and business sectors where it is usually observed. This is a book for academics just as much as for professionals in the field.' Michael Quine, Formerly Acting Head of Department: Department of Cultural Policy & Management, School of Arts, City University, UK 'Bullying in the Arts is an important subject for any people working in an organisation environment. Anne-Marie Quigg does a pioneer job by providing the cultural milieu with a tool easy to understand. She discusses this matter in length with interesting examples. Everyone in a management capacity should read this book.' Professor François Colbert, Chair in Arts Management Carmelle and Rémi-Marcoux, HEC Montréal, Canada 'Quigg's work gives an insightful snapshot into the labour practices of arts organisations, firstly in terms of the "creative" sector as a whole in relation to key trends in employment practices; and secondly, it also represents the way in which a variety of different organisations manage social relations. In doing this, the primary focus of Bullying in the Arts is therefore not on "artists" per se but on the actual management of the arts in terms of how labour processes are produced. This book therefore helps towards an understanding of unacceptable management practice - such as bullying - but also points towards potential directions for improved "leadership".' The Variant, Issue 42, Winter 2011
