Bulletin 03.09.2009

Work conditions in the artist-run centres’ network

For many months, one issue keeps returning to the forefront of our concerns: the work conditions within our network. This was a major part of the discussion in the meeting following hot buttons / points chauds last November. Over the past few months, we have been active with funders and other government agencies to raise awareness as to the difficult work conditions that are all too prevalent within our network. Inadequate compensation, unpaid overtime and lack of protection (health insurance, pension plan, etc.) result in a staff turnover that weakens many centres and hinders their development.

Our network has supported a fair remuneration of artists’ work for quite some time through exhibition fees that follow predetermined schedules. Unfortunately, it seems that artists do not always benefit from a similar recognition when they are employees of artist-run centres. Should we be proposing a salary scale for artist-run centres’ staff, based on the model of fee schedules for exhibitions?

This is something we considered during our Board meeting in Edmonton last May. We are also discussing this issue with our colleagues of the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA), with whom we are currently realizing a joint survey in order to better evaluate the prevailing situation throughout the entire network of artist-run centres. If you haven’t already filled out this survey, please do so by following this link . Please rest assured that your answers will be treated confidentially.

The Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) has also just published an interesting study on compensation in the cultural sector, to which a number of organizations in our network were contributors. You can read it by following this link (PDF file).

During our meeting in Edmonton, we met with the officers for artist-run centres at the Canada Council for the Arts, Melinda Mollineaux and Jim Logan, and we raised this issue of work conditions in artist-run centres with them. We discussed in particular the upcoming revision of the Assistance to Artist-Run Centres’ Program, as well as the advisory committee that the Council will convene this month. This meeting was very constructive, and we are confident that the committee will ensure that the program develops in the right direction.

Lastly, we have to mention the cuts that were announced recently to art organizations in British-Columbia. Last Friday, many of them received an email saying that the money they were expecting from the Access to Gaming Revenue programme would not be granted. These cuts range from 6% to 47% of the artist-run centres’ budget in this province, and add to the 40% to 50% cuts to the British-Columbia Arts Council that were already expected. The situation is extremely severe and our colleagues in BC are currently organizing their actions. We offer them our solidarity and we will keep you posted on developments as soon as possible.

As you can see, it will be another busy year on the advocacy front, not mentioning the strong possibility of a federal election. Hopefully you were able to enjoy relaxing time this summer!

Daniel Roy
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P.S. Have you visited our website, which was revised in April? Here you will find links to every artist-run centre across the country on the home page. This website will be further developed over the coming months, so do not hesitate to send us your comments and suggestions, and kindly create a link from your own website to ours.

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