Degree Shows Guide 2016

CAMPAIGN
Paying Artists: what it is
and why it’s important
Launched in May 2014, the Paying Artists campaign aims to secure payment for artists who
exhibit in publicly-funded galleries. Artist S Mark Gubb discusses his involvement in the campaign.
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The Paying Artists campaign was established by a-n,
artist membership organisation and publisher of this
guide, and its advisory group AIR Council, based
on evidence from a survey of UK artists about their
experiences of remuneration and income levels.
A lot has been achieved so far. Discussion and debate on
artists’ pay has gained momentum across the visual arts
sector both in the UK and internationally.
The campaign’s forthcoming guidance and framework
around exhibition fees – the Exhibition Fees Framework
– is the result of two years’ consultation, surveying and
testing with artists, galleries and funders, which brings us
a step closer to helping secure payment for artists.
Here, artist S Mark Gubb explains why the Paying Artists
campaign is so important for anyone embarking on a
career in the visual arts.
Why did you become involved in the Paying
Artists campaign?
I’ve been an artist for around half of my life and
have personally experienced the complete lack of parity
that exists across institutions and commissioning bodies
in terms of paying artists. That’s not to say there aren’t
some excellent examples of good practice out there.
However, I’ve been paid very well by some people, and
not at all by others.
The financial insecurity that exists in this career is one
of the key stresses on the personal and professional lives
of most artists I know, even those whose level of success
may suggest times shouldn’t be so hard anymore. That
a huge section of this industry is propped up by the
good will of the very people that should be at its core is
fundamentally wrong.
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