Correct remuneration guideline in the visual arts

Visual artists have the lowest income of all artists on average, according to the study ‘Loont passie?’ [Does passion pay?]. Only 30% of artists indicate that they are compensated for making their own work and/or for exhibiting. Moreover, compensation practices differ greatly among organisations. Artists, freelance curators and organisations therefore worked on a collective guideline that all parties can agree to. With this guideline, everyone – artist, curator and organisation – has a clear set of arrangements to enable correct compensation.

The guideline is based on a number of important principles:

• It uses time as a parameter for correct compensation, linked to the wage scales of Joint Committee 329.
• A feasible project budget is drawn up by the collaborating parties in which the agreed wage is distinguished from other budget items.
• Arrangements are made about the use of existing work in the form of a presentation fee.
• Other financial arrangements are made concerning transport, insurance, purchase and sale.
• All arrangements are established in writing.

These arrangements apply to projects or organisations not involved in sales. To help artists, curators and organisations put the guideline into practice, we also offer a compensation calculator. This allows you to calculate correct compensation for visual artists and curators, in the form of paid employment as well as in the form of a fee for the self-employed.

Source: Visual Arts working group of oKo, NICC, SOTA, Cultuurloket, a pool of artists and freelance curators, and CAHF

Facilitated by: Flanders Arts Institute