Graphics
Lots of graphics made by UK artists under Creative Commons licenses or in the public domain here:
1. the need for freeculture.org.uk: why did it happen or how did it develop? what is the mission of freeculture.org.uk?
Before FC-UK there was no group dedicated to grassroots free culture activism. We had Creative Commons UK who deal with the UK-specific licenses, but they don't officially tackle more social and political issues for obvious reasons. We also had a range of digital rights organisations, but none were focusing on free culture and none were encouraging grassroots participation.
The mission of FC-UK, therefore, is threefold: first, to get many people involved in free culture activism; second, to work together to oppose those that would restrict our freedom, whether by extending laws relating to copyright, repressing new technologies or promoting a closed, proprietary future for culture; and third, to work together to promote positive alternatives that will increase our cultural freedoms, such as the public domain and Creative Commons.
2. over what period did the freeculture.org.uk develop and what are the significant moments?
The idea was probably mulled over by various people ever since the Free Culture organisation in the US was announced. Possibly people thought about doing something similar for years before that. But the intention to form the group was announced in May 2005. In late June, Rufus Pollock and Tom Chance drafted the web site and campaigns in the space of a few days and formally announced the launch of the group on the 28th of July.
The next significant moment will be the first FC-UK Congress, where we will meet as a network to make decisions about what we will do over the next year (see: MeetingMinutes/2005-Congress).
3. resources, technology, participants and funding: how did it happen practically?
Rufus Pollock hosted the FC-UK web site and mailing lists on the OKFN servers, since FC-UK is officially part of the Open Knowledge Foundation Network. At present all participants are volunteers and have either come into FC-UK through existing similar organisations (Creative Friends, CC-UK, CNUK, AFFS, Remix Reading, Liquid Culture) or by word of mouth from friends. We have no funding, but I suppose we may be looking for some in the future.
So how did it happen? Messily, spontaneously, as and when people found the time and energy to put some work into it 
4. organisational structure: how is freeculture.org.uk run? what relationships exist between projects, workers and participants?
FC-UK is an open, decentralised, participatory grassroots network. Buzzwords aside, we have a national network that is co-ordinated online by means of consensus decision making (see GroupGuide/MakingDecisions) and a meritocracy tempered by a democratic spirit. So decisions tend to depend upon who is willing to put in the work, but we also try to ensure every participant agrees with decisions where possible.
We also have a network of local groups, which are autonomous from the national network. They can organise themselves as they see fit, but should keep in touch with the national network and try to work in sync with the national network. This works in reality because every local group will have at least one or two participants on the national mailing list.
5. content & audience: what are the outcomes of freeculture.org.uk and how are you distributing and exhibiting?
Well our content is really just the web site, announcement emails and any leaflets & posters we produce. Distribution of announcements is done by flooding every mailing list, web site and news organisation with announcements. Flyers and posters are put around by local groups.
We will, once we get it working, have a public domain register. People will be able to find works that are in the public domain, burn and upload the file to archive.org then enter the metadata into our registry. We will then promote this registry heavily as the point of reference for the public when they want to know what they can share and remix.
6. sustainability: what are your main projects long term? do you have any one-off projects?
The first long term project is to continue recruiting and involving people. After that we have our three long-term campaigns: 14+14 (reducing the length of copyright terms), Creative Commons (promotion) and Public Domain Burn (building the register). They can all be worked on indefinitely.
Within each campaign we have short-term goals. For example, we are trying to get signatures and testimony to demonstrate support for the 14+14 campaign, which can then be presented to ministers and industry figures at opportune moments. The Reading and Brighton groups are running remix projects, which encourage people in their local area to share and remix work, and which therefore have results that can be appreciated in the short-term.
This way, with long-term campaigns that have short-term goals, we give ourselves longevity but also give participants and the outside world times when they can see concrete examples of our success.
7. how would readers of the handbook get involved in freeculture.org.uk?
Visit the web site and then contact either the national network mailing list, or your local group. If a local group doesn't yet exist in your area and you'd like to start one, contact the national network mailing list.