Wed, 8 Oct 1997 23:39:02 -0400
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Greetings,
Recently Jane Ingram Allen inquired about Canadian Policy on paying
artists to exhibit. Since in a former position as director of Canadian Artists'
Representation I was responsible for enforcing this "policy" I will comment.
1) In Canada the copyright law includes exhibition right as an economic
aspect of copyright. It applies to all artistic works created on or after
June 8,
1988 and applies when such work is exhibited in public for purposes other
than for sale of rental. Hence museum exhibitions and most art centers fall
under this law but commercial dealers and rental galleries do not.( It has been
argued that on one level all art is for sale, but museums/ art centers are
not in
business to sell or rent art as a primary focus.)
2) The law does not specify an amount to be paid, and it is possible for an
artist to waive right to payment provided it is done in writing with full
knowledge
that they have the right to request payment for this use of copyright.
3) Fee schedules are set by Artist Organizations as suggested minimums. The
Canadian Artist Representation (CARFAC) began fee schedules in 1968, 20 years
before the law recognized the right. In Quebec fees are set by the artist
group RAAV.
In either case the suggested minimum fee for a solo show in a single small
regional
museum or Arts centre is about $1,100 canadian. Fees for larger Museums and
for
touring shows are proportionally higher. Fees usually rise with the cost of
living with
some lag time. In the case of a group show the fees are divided, for
simplicity keep
the solo minimum plus about 10% in mind to calculate. For large group shows
such as
regional annual shows a set fee of about $80 per work is often paid. Fees
are for periods of
3 to 6 weeks of exhibition. For longer shows fees rise.
4) As copyright fees taxes must also be paid if the artist is GST
registered (federal sales tax)
I realize that this may sound complicated to those not familiar with it and
overly simplified to those
using the CARFAC or RAAV fee schedules, but as a person who worked on
drafting both schedules
I can assure you that there is some predictability to fees as well as
reasoning behind them.
Greg Graham, [log in to unmask]
Balandis Graham Consulting -- arts management
Art Integrity -- Your Gallery on the Web http://www.odyssee.net/~tom2/fine/
Telephone (819) 684-3942
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