The standardized compensation figures are based on a study conducted by SiRM/PPCM commissioned by BKNL and based on the legal minimum wage and an average number of professional activities per year.
The amounts are calculated according to the principle that a visual artist working full time as such should be able to earn at least the minimum wage, including vacation allowance and a surcharge for employer’s costs. On the reference date of July 1st, 2016, this amounted to a gross income of about €26,000 per year.
The amounts in the guideline are indexed yearly according to the percentage increase in the minimum wage. The current amounts have thus been adjusted to the wage level for 2022.
The calculation is also based on the following principles:
- Per year, an artist working full time produces an average of one solo exhibition with new work and six group exhibitions, of which three contain existing work and three new work. In total, this amounts to seven exhibitions per year. Because it is possible to generate other income with the exhibited works or activity, for example through sales, a standard reduction is taken into account. In this way, the aforementioned gross income of €26,000 per year is generated. Income from sales or other activities are not included in this calculation.
- For compensation for labor (production), an average of one solo exhibition and six group exhibitions, of which three exhibitions contain existing work and three new work, is assumed. For the production of new work for solo exhibitions, 65 days of production are allocated, 25 days for adapting existing work, and 5 days for existing work. This includes both the production of the work (category 1) and hanging or setting up the work in the exhibition (category 2). Compensation for labor (production) amounts to €111 per day (in 2022).
- In addition to compensation for production, hanging, and set-up, compensation for the use of works (loan compensation) is included. Compensation for the use of works for a solo exhibition is €554 per month (in 2022).
- The artist benefits from exhibiting work. It increases the chance of selling a work and has a positive effect on the price of a work. This is translated into a standard reduction of the remunerations to be paid by the art institutions.
- To calculate the rates for duo and group exhibitions, a percentage of the amounts for solo exhibitions is used.