The artist and society

Creative artists are the bedrock of the cultural diversity which is as vital to humankind as biodiversity is to living beings. By viewing artistic activities as essential contributions to society rather than simply as works of the mind, we can better understand the invitation addressed to the Member States of UNESCO in the Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist to "make it possible for artists to enjoy the esteem necessary for the full development of their work and provide the economic safeguards to which artists are entitled as people actively engaged in cultural work". In addition, the artists and authors attending the World Congress on the implementation of the Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist stated in their Final Declaration that "it should be reaffirmed that no artist should be discriminated against in respect of taxation, social security or freedom of association on the grounds of his or her employment status, and recognition should be given to the right of representative associations and unions of professional artists to collective bargaining on behalf of all professional artists, and to be involved in the various decision-making processes affecting their interests".

Two basic definitions

Creating an observatory dedicated to the status of the artist in the world raises two fundamental questions: who is an "artist"? and what is meant by the term "status"? The definition of an artist may mask ideological differences regarding the very notions of art and creation on the one hand, and the concept of socially identifiable, profitable and paid work on the other.

What is an artist?

After undertaking various studies and carrying out several consultations with the Member States and NGOs concerned, the General Conference of UNESCO, at its 21st session held in Belgrade, adopted on 27 October 1980 the following definition of the artist:

Meaning of the word "status"

In the Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist, the word "status" is defined as the regard accorded to artists in a society, on the basis of the importance attributed to the part they are called upon to play therein and recognition of the liberties and rights, including moral, economic and social rights, with particular reference to income and social security, which artists should enjoy.

Legislation, social condition and international standards governing the work of artists in the world In a recent study by the International Labour Office (ILO) on The social situation of musical performers in Africa, Asia and Latin America (study carried out by the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) at the request of ILO, available at www.ilo.org), it emerged clearly that in the case of musicians, and with the exception of Japan and a few Latin American countries, Argentina in particular, the status of independent worker means an almost complete absence of social security. The vulnerability of this situation makes the establishment and intervention of trade unions very difficult, resulting in a deterioration of working conditions. What is the situation for other artists, however? What is the social status of painters, writers or audiovisual artists? What about other geographic regions?

The observatory’s first thematic heading, which deals with legislation, social status and international standards, contains a database, to be regularly updated, on the status of artists in the fields of literature, theatre, dance, music, the visual arts and cinema. The database is divided into six chapters on the status of the artist, as follows:

(1) artists’ right to social security (right to unemployment benefits, to exercise their craft under proper conditions of health and safety);

(2) artists’ trade union rights (including the right of association and rights of collective negotiation and social dialogue);

(3) artists’ right to a special tax status;

(4) artists’ right to retirement benefits;

(5) artists’ rights in respect of international mobility;

(6) the sixth section is devoted to sources of documentation, principally online, listing: specialized libraries, documentation centres, other databases and existing networks covering the same field.