Artist Fees
A long standing priority advocacy area for Visual Artists Ireland is equitable pay for all work artists undertake. VAI continues to campaign for better pay for artists.
A major milestone in 2021 was the The Arts Council Policy on Paying Artists which means that an organisation, festival or individual applying for funding from the Arts Council must be paying any artist involved in the funded activity equitably. Many local authorities also have a policy on paying artists.
Payment Guidelines
Visual Artists Ireland had undertaken research both inside and outside of Ireland to create this set of guidelines for payments for professional visual artists. Based on research that first took place in 2011, with updates in 2013 and 2016. The most recent research was by survey of artists payments in 2021 (payment guidelines have not yet been updated to reflect this recent research).
In consultation with artists, arts organisations and funding bodies, as well as key expert organisations internationally, the following guidelines were drawn up to enable venues and artists calculate equitable levels of payments, properly budget for their programmes and for the variety of work that professional artists undertake in not for profit spaces.
The figures provided are an indicator of the level of payment. Organisations may provide slightly more or slightly less than the amount shown. What will be paid for and the level of fees should be made clear in initial correspondence; contracts; and any advertising that takes place.
Main Payment Guidelines page, including Euro and Sterling views
Visual Artists Payment Calculator
For use by organisations and artists to calculate artist fee on a project by projec basis:
Other Fees:
This link outlines guidelines for other fees including artist talks, installation time, workshops, selection panels, licensing fees: