MATTHEW HAWKINS applauds a psychotherapist’s disection of William Blake

THE Covid pandemic lifted the veil on the millions of low-paid workers who keep the country running. It was a brief opportunity for these people, often poor and isolated, to recognise themselves as a workforce, and to organise.
One result has been the Fair Hospitality Charter, an initiative of Unite, that calls for employers and workers to agree a minimum set of conditions, namely: a real living wage (£8.45 an hour), rest breaks, equal pay for young workers, paid transport after midnight, policies that stamp out sexual harassment, a minimum hours contract, 100 per cent tips to staff, consultation on rotas and unfettered union access to represent and organise staff.
To support and publicise this initiative, the ethical Glasgow-based production company Fair Pley will deliver a “cabaret of dangerous ideas” featuring stars of spoken word and music on Sunday June 19 (tomorrow) at Southside Community Centre, Edinburgh.
It promises to be a brilliant evening of entertainment with some of Scotland’s finest talent.

ANGUS REID applauds the ambitious occupation of a vast abandoned paper factory by artists mindful of the departed workforce

ANGUS REID calls for artists and curators to play their part with political and historical responsibility

