According to a recent survey, many artists in the UK are earning only £2.60 per hour, which is way below the country's legal minimum wage of £9.50 per hour. The survey was conducted on a
limited scale of 104 artists who have worked with non-profit institutions in the UK. The research reveals that paying a lump sum hides the actual amount of work that is expected from the artists. The median day rate for this type of work is £90, which is below the recommended rate of £291.41 by the Artists’ Union England industry.
The lack of transparency in what artists get paid was the catalyst for the survey conducted by Industria, the artist-run organisation, on behalf of a-n. Industria submitted a freedom of information request to the Tate in 2020, asking to see details of how much it paid exhibiting artists. However, the request was denied on the grounds that it was not in the museum's 'commercial interest' to release the data.
In the US, since 2014, 109 non-profit institutions ranging from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to Project Row Houses in Houston have voluntarily signed up for the W.A.G.E. Certification, established by artist rights group W.A.G.E. This certification ensures that minimum payment standards are followed, and fee guidelines are publicly available, calculated in ratio to an institution's total annual operating expenses.
Industria said in a statement that it is crucial to take action now, and while the institutions and funders need to undertake most of the work, the artists also have a role to play. They need to keep sight of their position in relation to their fellow artists and other precarious workers. It is an essential part of building a future in which everyone, including artists, can live without precarity. Beyond the demand for fair wages, pushing for Universal Basic Services or Universal Basic Income for all is crucial.
In conclusion, the survey conducted by Industria on behalf of a-n reveals that many artists in the UK are earning less than the legal minimum wage. The lack of transparency in what artists get paid is a significant concern, and it is essential to take action now to ensure fair wages for artists. The W.A.G.E. Certification in the US can be an excellent model to follow, and pushing for Universal Basic Services or Universal Basic Income for all can ensure that everyone, including artists, can live without precarity. Photo by pmorgan, Wikimedia commons.