Community Arts Benchmarking

North Lanarkshire Community Arts Programme is, therefore, quite unique in both in size, (more than 120 classes per week over three terms, autumn, winter and spring. Summer is dedicated to a more eclectic programme of one-off events, intensive workshops and specialist events) range of provision (dance, drama, photography, music, craft, visual arts, exhibitions, creative writing and a recording studio) and geographical spread (more that 30 community facilities used across the authority area).

Direct comparisons are, as a result, quite difficult to make in many instances, however some basic information gathered from a wide range of Scottish Local Authorities gives some interesting comparative data.

Adult per hour
Our lowest hourly charges for adults are found in Creative Writing, North Lanarkshire Choir (both adults and children) and Dance for the Over 50s. These all cost £1.00 per hour. Most other classes fall into the £1.50 - £2.50 per hour bracket and this often includes materials. The most expensive hourly session (though operated on half-hourly appointments) is the Creative Writing Surgery sessions (one to one), these worked out at £4.00 per hour. In general North Lanarkshire's adult hourly rates compare very favourably with other authorities and many activities cost less than other areas.

Concessions
North Lanarkshire offers the 'Passport to Leisure' concession to adults over the age of 16. Generally no concessions are available to children. This is broadly similar to most of the other authorities in the comparative data for adults, but not for children. Concessions for children have only been available to children block booking Children's drama (and dance?). Paying in advance for a block entitles participants to a reduced fee, in effect a 12-week block for the price of 10. This was initiated to encourage advance payments that cut down on administration and eat into class time. It is noted that many authorities indicate they offer free classes on a regular basis; this is something that would very rarely happen in North Lanarkshire.

Child per hour
Costs for children's classes range from 50p per hour for creative writing to a maximum of £2.00 per hour for music, dance and some visual arts classes (materials included). Other classes range between £1.25 and £1.80 per hour, and again materials are often included in this cost. It would appear from the data available from other authorities that North Lanarkshire is broadly in line with most of them in relation to charges for children's activities.

Instructors Hourly Rate
North Lanarkshire pays sessional arts tutors the following rates: £5.58, £7.03 and £9.41. From the information available, only one other authority pays sessional staff rates anything like this. Tutor pay rates at this level mean we are able to offer a very cost-effective programme. It should, however, be noted that sessional staff recruitment and retention can be difficult for the Community Arts Programme at times.

Conclusions
From the limited comparisons available it would suggest that the Community Arts Programme in North Lanarkshire compares favourably against many other authorities. In several areas, North Lanarkshire is very similar to the vast majority of illustrations. Two areas differ significantly, concessions for children, generally not something that is offered across the Department of Community Services. The relatively low hourly rate that is paid to sessional arts tutors is also at odds with most of the other data. The only instance that this might vary for the Community Arts Programme is when artists that are employed are paid via the Professional Fees budget and not the general staffing budget. The Community Arts Section has limited influence over the pay scales for sessional staff as Human Resources Section sets these departmentally.