Korean artists can now request proper monetary compensation for their creative activity.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced Monday it will test-operate the artist fee system at six national and public museums, starting this month.

The ministry will revise the system during the test operation and plans to expand the system to all national and public museums next year.

There are many countries enforcing an artist fee system such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland and the United States.

However, in Korea, most art institutions pay for the costs of materials or installation fees, but there is no standard for the fees, which is considered to include compensation for the artist's creative activity as well.

The artist fee system aims to provide the artists with proper remuneration for their work, separate from the installation fees.

The ministry suggests the minimum monthly fee for established veteran artists is around 4.7 million won ($4,200) and 2.4 million won for young, emerging artists. The unit price is based on labor costs for contract research agreement and will be determined by other factors such as exhibition participation and duration and type of artwork.

The system is likely to be legalized as Rep. You Sung-yop of the People's Party will table the Art Promotion Act during a regular session of the National Assembly, which includes a clause obligating all exhibition organizers to pay artists for their work.

"The artist fee system has great significance on protecting artists' creative rights. We will begin with national and public museums, but after legislation it will assist artists to focus on their works," a culture ministry official said.

Kwon Mee-yoo / The Korea Times

 

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2017/09/691_235960.html