Good work - fair pay for artists and cultural workers
Minimum fees for cultural funding in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Since August 1, 2024, a new remuneration system has been in effect for two state cultural education programs, such as Artists in Daycare and Culture and School. Starting in January 2026, the minimum fee thresholds will also be mandatory for events with NRW state funding in all other fields: literature, music, performing arts, and visual arts. A variety of factors were considered when setting the minimum fee thresholds. These include, for example, the type and duration of the event, the size of the audience, and the economic strength of the organizer.
Fee matrix of the Conference of Ministers of Culture
At the 8th meeting of the Conference of Ministers of Culture (Kultur-MK) in 2022, a matrix structure was presented that can be used to determine fair, sector-specific fees for artists within the individual states.
In the area of remuneration, a "Commission for Fair Remuneration for Self-Employed Artists" was specifically appointed, comprised of experts from various professional backgrounds, to determine sector-specific fee recommendations. The outcome of this commission's work was a fee matrix structure, which was also developed in consultation with professional and employer associations.
The fee matrix as PDF (external)
The ver.di-Basishonorare
To ensure fair remuneration in the arts and culture sector, ver.di has developed a transparent model for calculating base fees. The goal is to incorporate it into funding guidelines. ver.di presents the calculation model in a presentation on its website, along with numerous sample fees and other information on the topic.
To the calculation model (external)
Recommendation for minimum fees of the NRW Media Art Fund
Based on recommendations from various associations, the medienwerk.nrw office, as the organizer of the “Fund to Promote New Cooperative Processes in Media Art and Digital Culture in North Rhine-Westphalia” established by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, recommends that all project participants be given appropriate remuneration and that this be transparently included in the cost and financing plan.
Fee recommendations for new media art funding as PDF (external)
Wage regulations for solo employees and stage technicians
According to a joint press release from the German Stage Association and the artists' unions GDBA, VdO, and BFFS, all parties have agreed on a new fee structure for solo artists and stage technicians in the fourth round of negotiations. The minimum fee (previously €2,000) will increase in two stages: initially to €2,550 starting September 1, 2022, and then to €2,715 starting January 1, 2023. Guest fees will also be increased accordingly, rising by more than 35 percent.
Press release of the German Stage Association (external)
Fees for freelance performers in the performing arts
The Federal Association of Independent Performing Arts (BFDK) adopted a new minimum fee for freelance performers in the performing arts at its delegate assembly on October 12, 2022. According to this recommendation, those insured with the Artists' Social Insurance Fund (KSK) should receive at least €3,100 per month, and those not insured with the KSK should receive at least €3,600 per month.
To calculate the BFDK of the fee floor (external)
Fee Guidelines for Visual Artists
The Federal Committee of the Federal Association of Visual Artists (BBK) unanimously adopted the Guidelines on Fees for Visual Artists on December 5, 2022. The BBK Federal Association thus provides a well-founded recommendation for appropriate remuneration for visual artistic services, specifically tailored to the profession of visual artists.
To the BBK fee guide as PDF (external)
Fee recommendations for freelance cultural scientists
At the general meeting of the Federal Association of Freelance Cultural Scientists (BfK) on March 18, 2022, the German Research Foundation updated its fee recommendations. Fees are exclusive of incidental expenses (office overhead, production costs, travel expenses, accommodation costs) and the applicable statutory value-added tax.
To the BfK's fee recommendations (external)
Minimum fees for professional musicians
To improve the situation of self-employed musicians, the German Music Council has presented cross-association recommendations for minimum fees for publicly funded projects and institutions. To the Music Council's fee recommendations (external)
Job portal for cultural workers
The Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe has posted a current job board for the cultural sector on its website.
To the job portal (external)