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The socio-economic situation of artists and flex workers in the arts sector is worryingly precarious. In order to make the artist’s career sustainable and to allow the sector to flourish in all its diversity, correct remuneration in the context of a fair and equal working relationship is necessary. At the same time, many players in the sector insufficiently understand their rights, obligations and possibilities. Juist is Juist [what’s right is right] aims to provide concrete tools to enter into correct collaborations.

Juist is Juist wants to help create a sector in which fair practices are self-evident for all. The principles, model contracts and tools offered here are a catalyst for this. It is a guide that aims to support, share and facilitate. It calls for doing the right thing, the correct thing.

Juist is Juist aims:

• … to inform and raise awareness about good practices so that these can be anchored in the daily operations of organisations and individuals.
• … to provide guidance in obtaining fair collaborations based on principles, model contracts and concrete tools.
• … to offer a clear overview of legislation and agreements related to remuneration.
• … to be a supporting tool for all in the sector in starting collaborations based on knowledge and equality.
• … to empower flex workers and especially artists, and to strengthen them in their negotiating position.
• … to support organisations with specific instruments in line with legislation and decree conditions.

Juist is Juist was developed for all who collaborate in the professional arts sector, and is mainly based on the practices of organisations, artists and art sector workers active under the Arts Decree. But those who are active in non-subsidised organisations (commercial or non-commercial) and in other art branches will also find helpful tools. Including those who are not members of oKo or who, for example, are active in non-subsidised organisations.

• This includes autonomous flex-working artists as well as companies, orchestras and art institutions. Special attention is paid to artists and other culture workers.
• In all disciplines and working methods (performing arts, music including pop and rock, visual and audiovisual arts);
• In all possible working relationships:
  • Clients and contractors;
  • Producers and coproducers;
  • Venues and performers.

To achieve fair practices, good intentions are needed, but they alone are not enough. Which is why Juist is Juist addresses three levels. Guiding principles with which you can weigh what you do and say, clear model contracts concerning what is and is not acceptable in our sector, and concrete tools that help to implement fair practices in daily operations.

In this context we mainly focus on the legislation itself, on clarifying ‘grey zones’, and on the relationship between negotiating parties, so that collaborations start from a position of equality. We also want to focus on strengthening the position of the freelancer, who can achieve better working conditions with the right knowledge and tools in hand. Thus Juist is Juist aims to be a reference that the various players in the field can use to make their practice fairer.

Juist is Juist focuses on what we as a sector can do to achieve better working conditions for all. Presently Juist is Juist focuses on the quality of agreements and collaborations in the arts sector, in a broad sense: Financial and contractual agreements made within these collaborations

This is part of a broader ambition for the arts sector. At a later stage, we want to supplement Juist is Juist with information and tools on diversity, ecology, good governance, well-being and unacceptable behaviour. Development projects are currently underway for issues matters at oKo and with other partners such as Sensoa, Cultuurloket, the Performing Arts Social Fund, Pulse, VI.BE and Flanders Arts Institute. The results will later be included under the large umbrella of Juist is Juist.

Juist is Juist offers you concrete tools to start a collaboration and support you in work arrangements and negotiations, but it does not replace those conversations. In other words, Juist is Juist helps you to knowledgeably sit down at the discussion table, but (apart from the legal basis) it does not contain any mandatory guidelines.

Juist is Juist is:

• … not a label.
• … not a monitoring instrument.
• … not a completed document that can no longer be changed.

Juist is Juist wants to open up the conversation, not end it. You therefore must always actively apply the information you find on Juist is Juist.

OKo is the initiator of Juist is Juist. It is the concrete transposition of the fair practices charter. The idea for such a charter has been around for a long time. It developed from within the arts sector. OKo coordinated Juist is Juist and, in a long process, elaborated it further with many partners. Together with the other fair practice initiatives that were launched throughout the sector in recent years, Juist is Juist is paving the way.

Juist is Juist was created through the efforts of and in permanent consultation with all member organisations of oKo, a large number of supporting partner organisations and a wide range of freelance artists, art sector workers and experts. The contributions of all these parties – each in a different way and at a different time in the process – resulted in a very rich result. You can find an overview of all partners here.

Juist is Juist originated from the bottom-up over a period of several years, during which the specificities of different working and organisational forms and disciplines were taken into account.

OKo (Overleg Kunstenorganisaties) is the advocacy group, employers’ federation and network of professional arts organisations in Flanders and Brussels. Oko unites more than 225 members who devote themselves to the creation, production, distribution and support of the arts and to facilitating participation in the arts. They are active in diverse disciplines and working methods.

Since 2015, oKo works on the “fair practices charter” trajectory, together with a number of initiators. The basic text for the further consultation process was created within the oKo “Artist at the Centre” workgroup. To give impetus to the project, oKo called on external consultants. The model contracts and principles were developed based on conversations with the arts field.

In 2019, oKo made a new start thanks to collaborations with partners such as SOTA, Cultuurloket, the Performing Arts Social Fund, Flanders Arts Institute and NICC. In that year, the oKo network also addressed some important substantive issues via the general assembly. Thus the principles and model contracts of Juist is Juist were approved. OKo also brought together four focus groups to discuss the principles, model contracts and tools. These focus groups were composed based on their specific expertise, with an important focus on non-oKo members and on flex workers. All the components of Juist is Juist were therefore tested within oKo, with the focus groups and with the partners of Juist is Juist.

Construction of the website www.juistisjuist.be started in 2020. On June 25, Juist is Juist was launched with a sectoral campaign.

Juist is Juist is a living, digital platform that will be continuously adapted to changing legislation and current working practices. After the launch, we will continue to work in the form of workshops and information moments, but we will also be keeping our finger on the pulse to expand on the model contracts and tools based on the needs and developments in the field.

Corona has thoroughly shaken society and the arts sector. At the same time, it is also underscoring the importance of fair work in our sector. More than ever, fair practices, solidarity and care for each other are needed. Juist is Juist can help make the right agreements to achieve this.