Art is work. And it deserves to be paid! But how much? What is fair and reasonable? Fee recommendations have proven to be a valuable guide for artists and cultural workers—both in Austria and internationally. They promote self-empowerment when negotiating fees and are intended to prevent fee dumping. But they are also a political tool for jointly advocating for adequate funding for the arts and culture. The IG Bildende Kunst—under the slogan“pay the artist now!” since 2016—has been campaigning for fair compensation for artistic work.
Guidelines and Fee Schedule for Fair Compensation in the Visual Arts
The IG Bildende Kunst and the Artists’ Association of Tyrol have jointly developed non-binding recommendations for fair compensation in the visual arts. This effort has resulted in two position papers: a guide and a fee schedule. The accompanying FAQs provide in-depth information on the background and fee calculations.
The guide focuses on activities related to exhibition operations and recommends base rates, for example, for participating in an exhibition or giving an artist talk. The fee schedule complements the guide and recommends hourly rates for a wide range of artistic activities, particularly for artistic production and the budgeting of personal projects. These recommendations serve as a budgeting tool for visual artists and for anyone who works professionally with visual artists.
Glossary
Our “Pay the Artist Now!” glossary contains 68 terms. The glossary is a comprehensive source of information. We have tried to translate complex technical terms into clear and concise explanations—from expense reimbursements to usage rights to designated purpose.