We know a printed reference list can quickly become outdated. This digital version, with relevant links, makes it easier to keep the sources up to date, reflect corrections, additions, or updates made after this toolkit is published. This will be updated and expanded as our network grows.

Creative Eco-systems:

Gross, J. & Wilson, N. (2019). Creating the Environment: The cultural eco-systems of Creative People and Places Creative-People-and-Places-Cultural-Ecology-Report_FINAL_WEB.pdf

Oakley, K., & Banks, M. (2020). Cultural Industries and the Environmental Crisis. Springer.

Dovey, J., Moreton, S., Sparke, S., & Sharpe, B. (2016). The practice of cultural ecology: Network connectivity in the creative economy. Cultural Trends, 25(2), 87–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 09548963.2016.1170922

Manfredi de Bernard, Roberta Comunian & Jonathan Gross (2022) Cultural and creative ecosystems: a review of theories and methods, towards a new research agenda, Cultural Trends, 31:4, 332-353, DOI: 10.1080/09548963.2021.2004073

The Institute for Social Value has produced a clear framework for measuring, managing and accounting for social value or social impact.

Understanding the sector:

Campaign for the Arts, ‘The State of the Arts’ (2024): The State of the Arts | Campaign for the Arts

Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre: National Statistics on the Creative Industries - Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre

Arts Council England published its annual Creative and Cultural Freelancers Report in late 2024. At the same time it produced an extensive literature review, the bibliography of which demonstrates the extensive evidence of the precarious and challenging position of creative freelancers in the UK. Both the report and literature review can be found here.

Working with freelancers in the arts:

Freelancer Best Practice Guide – North East Cultural Freelancers/Case for Culture North East Freelancer Best Practice — North East Cultural Freelancers

Pay rates – Artists Union Rates of Pay - Artists' Union England

Pay rates – A-N Guidance_on_fees_and_day_rates_for_visual_artists_2025.pdf

Are You Asking People to do Something for Nothing (Unlimited and East Street Art)

Freelancer wellbeing

Artquest has produced this guide to the mental health challenges facing artists

Accessibility

UK Equality Act legislation: Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 - GOV.UK

Creating An Access Rider:

https://weareunlimited.org.uk/resource/creating-your-own-access-rider/

Access to Work:

Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK

https://disabilityarts.online/resources/guides-and-toolkits/access-to-work/atw/

https://disabilityarts.online/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Access-to-Work-Employers-Guide-for-the-Arts-and-Cultural-Sector.pdf

Guide to Accessible Recruitment and Employment: https://weareunlimited.org.uk/resource/accessible-recruitment-and-employment/

Creating Accessible Documents:

Creating Accessible Documents | AbilityNet

The Social Model of Disability:

https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/FactSheets_TheSocialModel.pdf

https://www.diversityandability.com/whats-the-difference-between-capital-d-disabled-and-lowercase-d-disabled/