Cover - Viva Lewes

Bully Art & Beware About
What’s on in Lewes’ Galleries this month (cont)
Our cover artist Peter Messer
will joining 40 or so others in an
Bullying exciting is exhibition a form of in organisational the Star violence and, if
not Gallery dealt with (Castle properly, Ditch a signifi Lane) cant source of workrelated
which runs stress from which October reportedly 30th affects one in six
people to November in the UK. 17th. It can take Curator many different forms,
from Hayley actual Mills physical has close violence links with and threats of violence
- India, to name and calling, she devised sarcasm the and show teasing.
having fallen in love with Indian
In miniature addition art. to the She cost decided to individuals’ to health and
well invite being a number the economic of artists cost she is has likewise substantial:
bullying contact with, costs employers from Sussex 80 and million working days
and from up London to £2 billion as well in lost as revenue select every year.
graduates from the University
Employers of Brighton, would to produce be wise to original take this issue
seriously, art works particularly for the show, in light which of is a recent case which
has entitled arguably ‘Stardust’. made The it easier only for limits
employees she gave them who was have that been the bullied works at work to claim
compensation.
had to be slightly smaller than
A4 size. As well as Peter Messer,
The artists case such confi as Marguerite rmed that employers Horner, are strictly liable
for Hamish workplace Black, bullying Harold Mockford, and harassment even if they
are Tom not Walker, themselves Julian Bell, directly Caroline responsible for it. This
ruling Trant, Charles is of great Williams, signifi cance Richard and may open the
fl Sorrell oodgates and to increased Charles bullying Gilvan and harassment
claims. Cartwright (pictured right) will
be represented. From the 25th
The the gallery case concerned will also William be holding Majrowski, an NHS
employee, its annual who Star brought Crafts Christmas a claim under the Protection
from Show Harassment showing work Act 1997 ranging against his employer
for from bullying pottery he suffered to jewellery at work via at the hands of his
line metal manager. works and Majrowski trugs. (A claimed trug that he had been
harassed is a medieval by his gardening line manager basket for about 18 months.
His particular line manager to Sussex). was suspended and, after an internal
investigation, was found to have subjected Majrowski
to Lewes’ homophobic latest gallery harassment. space, Four
Square Fine Arts (Mount Place)
Signifi has been cantly, set up the by Act art does consultant not defi ne harassment,
leaving Sonia it Crivello, open to the who courts has to vast decide the extent of its
application. experience in The selling Act was at originally art fairs intended to target
stalkers and has but a number has already of nationally been used against animal
rights renowned activists artists and on tabloid her newspaper books campaigns.
Until who she now, is victims going of to bullying, exhibit like in others who suffer
stress at work, have had to prove that the employer
was negligent in failing to prevent the bullying taking
LEGAL ADVICE FROM WYNNE BAXTER ART
WWW.VIVALEWES.COM
place. The use of this legislation avoids the need to
prove that the victim of the bullying behaviour has
consequently developed a psychiatric illness, that the
employer should have foreseen what happened and
allows also has a much longer time limit for bringing
claims.
The claim was originally struck out because it was
thought that the 1997 Act had not been designed to
create another level of liability in employment law.
However, this decision was subsequently overturned
and the House of Lords, the UK’s supreme court,
decided that the Act does cover the behaviour of
employees at work and the employer can be held
strictly liable even when it has not caused or failed
to prevent harassment of its employees.
the bright new No gallery doubt, space. this fashions decision will into have delicate-looking
far-reaching
She will also use implications the space for for people pots: who the clay are bullied is peppered at work with and
community projects. it is now First more up, important silica which than sparkles ever for in employers, the light.
an exhibition of three in consultation different with Manja employment Scott is an award-winning
law specialists,
artists, ‘Contrasting to ensure Elements’ that they printer properly who makes implement primitivist internal lino
until the 11th November, policies to which combat cuts bullying which and recall harassment her many in years the
features a ceramicist, workplace. an artist, in Africa; Sally McGill paints
V
and a painter. Ceramicist Sotis landscapes with a difference: they
Fillipides fell in love If you with think this that you are have viewed been from affected above, by workplace abstract-
country after discovering bullying a and type would looking like to and know in whether pastel shades you have of
of clay in Stoke which a claim is usually or if you turquoise are an employer and blue. and V would like
used for stone sculpture, advice on but implementing he anti-bullying policies please
contact Zoe Lagadec or Jo Williams at Wynne
Baxter on 01273 775533.
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