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Paying artists campaign launches
AIR commissions new research into artists’ fees.
Following AIR Council fact-finding and sifting of artists’ opinions over recent months, consultants DHA Communications have been commissioned to develop a body of evidence and the advocacy tools for an AIR campaign highlighting the need to pay artists for their vital contributions to arts and culture.
As AIR Council member Emily Speed has commented: “Everybody keeps shifting the responsibility of sustaining artists (the real lifeblood of the arts) to some other group." With the public-sector arts funding cuts, we regularly hear of arts organisations who seem now to be expecting artists to work for little or no fee and production costs.
DHA specialises in high-level policy expertise and extremely effective communication skills. “We create compelling communications and develop policy and thinking” said consultant Tamsin Cox, who also worked with the Musicians’ Union to collect evidence for the recently- launched ‘Playing for free’ campaign. As musician Louis Barabbas said “Just because the motives behind my craft are not money-based doesn’t mean I’ll play a gig for nothing.”
Over 500 artists in Scotland have signed the SAU petition demanding fair fees and improved professional terms and conditions for artists from the funded galleries to ensure: “a reliable, accessible and effective infrastructure for artists and makers focused on the long-term sustainability of the sector and its organisations”. A recent survey there suggested 70% are earning less than £10,000 a year.
As part of evidence gathering In January, all artists on the a-n+AIR membership database will be asked to contribute to a survey of their economic circumstances. Artists will also be asked help identify those galleries that are recognising the value of artists in the fees and conditions they provide for exhibitions. This two-part strategy has been informed by campaigns by W.A.G.E in the US and Reko in Sweden.
Watch for news of how you can be part of the Paying artists advocacy and campaign!
First published: a-n.co.uk December 2012
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Well done! It is high time something was done about artist's fees which have not increased since 2002. Also the treatment of artists by galleries. I know of no other industry who get their stock for nothing and expect the artist to deliver it and fetch it also for nothing. Artistic people thrive on praise and there is very little around. There is a parallel with musicians as so many people now play in bands and perform for nothing or a free pint and so many people are artists are lining up to pay to exhibit, that it has killed the industries for professionals.
posted on 2012-12-16 by Perryn Butler
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Recently I have had 2 discussions with cultural spaces in London were they were ether not paying for curator to develop and deliver an exhibition, and in addition a gallery where they were paying well below the minimum wage for their artist in residency programme. I am so glad that Artist News Letter is now developing a campaign around this issue. It would be great to work with 'an' on this issue to address this Victorian mode of practice.
posted on 2013-02-27 by Jonathan O'Dea