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1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist

The 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist calls upon Member States to improve the professional, social and economic status of artists through the implementation of policies and measures related to training, social security, employment, income and tax conditions, mobility and freedom of expression. It also recognizes the right of artists to be organized in trade unions or professional organisations that can represent and defend the interests of their members.

The Recommendation was adopted by UNESCO General Conference at its twenty-first session in 1980. At the time, the need to understand and strengthen the role of the “creative worker” was already recognized by Member States as well as the need to improve the status of such workers considering both he particular conditions of their profession and their contribution to development. Decades later, the Recommendation remains as relevant today as in 1980 considering the remaining challenges worldwide in the area of social and economic rights and the impact of digital technology on the work of artists.


A monitoring mechanism

Reporting on the action taken upon UNESCO’s recommendations is one of its Member States’ obligations under Article VIII of UNESCO’s Constitution. Every four years, the Secretariat therefore collects from Member States and National Commissions and from the various partners of the Organization such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), information on the implementation of the Recommendation. The Secretariat prepares a report based on the information collected for the attention of the Executive Board, which in turn submits it to the General Conference, in accordance with the specific multi-stage procedure for the monitoring of the implementation of UNESCO conventions and recommendations for which no specific institutional mechanism is provided.

With the adoption of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, a new impetus was given to the 1980 Recommendation. By recognizing the central role of artists in the creation and production of a diversity of cultural expressions, the Convention provides a new normative framework for the implementation and monitoring of the Recommendation.

In 2022, UNESCO launched a global consultation on the implementation of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist. This consultation aims to:

1.     Map and monitor the policies, measures and initiatives implemented by Member States, NGOs and INGOs to support the status of the artist;

2.     Identify challenges and opportunities faced by Member States, NGOs and INGOs in the implementation of the 1980 Recommendation, and their specific capacity-building needs to revise existing laws and policies or implement relevant initiatives,

3.     Collect and share best practices that illustrate how the provisions of 1980 Recommendation can be translated into effective policies and measures to support artists and the emergence of sustainable cultural ecosystems.

The consultation focuses on eight thematic areas: legal and regulatory frameworks; fair remuneration and access to financing; social and economic rights; digital environment; preferential treatment; artistic freedom; equality, inclusion, and diversity; and responses to COVID-19.

Both UNESCO Member States and national and international non-governmental organisations with extensive experience working with artists and cultural professionals are invited to participate.

The information gathered through this survey will be analysed and presented in the consolidated report that the Director-General will transmit to the 40th session of the General Conference in autumn 2023.

Access to the questionnaire:

  • UNESCO Member States: EN / FR (Coming soon!)
  • Non-governmental organisations: EN / FR (Coming soon!)
  • International non-governmental organisations: EN / FR (Coming soon!)

If you have not received an invitation but wish to participate in the survey, please write to status.artist@unesco.org.

Thank you in advance for submitting your contribution before 15 November 2022.

Fourth consultation (2019)

Implementation of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist:

  • Report of the Committee on Conventions and Recommendations of the 207th session of the Executive Board (207 EX/53)
  • Report submitted to the 207th session of the Executive Board (207 EX/23 Part VI )
  • Decision adopted by the Executive Board at its 207th session (207 EX/Decision 23.VI)

Consolidated report on the implementation of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist:

40 C/Resolution 91.

Third consultation (2015)

Application of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist :

Consolidated report on the implementation of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist :

Second consultation (2011)

Application of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist :

Consolidated report on the implementation of the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist :

First consultation (1983)