Rethinking the status of the artist: a new policy agenda

Artists’ employment and social status are precarious, with irregular incomes and long periods of unemployment. A fifth of those employed in cultural occupations (20%) work part time and the gender difference is substantial with around 28% women compared to 18% men in part time culture sector jobs. The result is lower tax contributions, leading to lower access to social security, pensions and other welfare provisions. Productive employment and decent work for all, including support for entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, is at the heart of SDG8. This entails support for employment creation schemes but also labour and social protection frameworks that take into account the unique and atypical manner in which professional artists work. UNESCO’s new Survey on the implementation of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist reveals that a growing number of Member States, especially in the global South, are developing new programmes to extend social benefits for artists (insurance, retirement pensions, health and medical care, etc). They are also exploring new models to provide economic rights for artists, including equitable pay and fair remuneration schemes. In addition, there are new initiatives to address broader challenges related to artists working in the digital environment, to address mobility barriers as well as artistic freedom and gender equality.