I have just had a read through the comments on this blog and it has given me a lot to think about. I also feel very glad not to be alone!
One comment reminded me of something that used to anger me greatly when I had just graduated; Elizabeth Haider relating her experiences of schools expecting her to work for nothing/little. As a graduate I tried to be realistic when looking at opportunities, but even then I was absolutely incensed by the (mainly private) schools looking for artists in residence, to teach up to 12 ish hours a week, given a studio and accomodation granted, but often accompanied by some measly bursary such as £3-4,000 per academic year. Shocking. What other industry would accept these conditions? Why do these schools even want someone in classes with their children (and wards) who is paid so little? Do they not value the staff they are placing into teaching positions? A friend from ECA added to my argument when she went into a residency at one school and had left by January, being very ill-equipped to cope with classes of children and given little support, not to mention having no time to do her own work and being incredibly stressed.
I wrote to a few schools one year to tell them what I thought of their 'residencies', but I only ever received one reply. They, in their defense, seemed to believe they were giving an invaluable opportunity to an emerging artist. Plus, they felt they were only offering what everyone else was. If they hadn't had any applicants I suspect they would have thought again, but of course, they had plenty.
Anyway, I try not to look at those adverts these days and to put my energy into more useful endeavors. I did have a good laugh at my younger, angrier self though. What this also make me realise is how important it is not to simply blame those offering the opportunities/the administrators etc (although they could be better educated about rates!) – but to look a bit deeper and try to address the problems where they begin, rather then where they are manifested.
