ActionSpace and 20 other visual arts organisations have united to pave a clear path for the next UK government to create a sustainable, thriving visual arts sector. The Visual Arts Manifesto is a collective manifesto calling for fair pay for freelancers, investment in creative education, sustainable art spaces and provides key policy recommendations. This comprehensive manifesto comes ahead of the UK General Election and highlights the critical role of the visual arts in the UK’s £126 billion creative industries.
The manifesto calls for fairer pay and improved support structures for these essential workers. Key short-term proposals include establishing a Smart Fund to generate collective licensing revenue and appointing a Freelancer Commissioner, two policies recommended by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in April 2024. Long-term goals focus on incorporating exhibition payments into copyright law and providing financial stability for learning disabled, neurodivergent and disabled artists.
ActionSpace has contributed to the call for the implementation of a grace period for disabled freelancer artists or visual arts workers whose income temporarily exceeds benefit thresholds. To provide financial stability and security for disabled artists, encouraging their continued participation in the arts.
Paula Orrell, CEO of CVAN said: “This united call to action underscores the urgency for the UK government to engage with the visual arts and visual artists to create a sustainable and thriving visual arts sector.”
The twenty one organisations include:
ACME, ActionSpace, A-n, Art Fund, Artquest, Council for Higher Education in Art & Design, Crafts Council, Creative Land Trust, Curator Space, Contemporary Visual Arts Network, Creative Workspace Network, DACS, Engage, FRANK Fair Artist Pay, Gallery Climate Coalition, Guild HE, London Higher, Outside In, Quench Gallery, Scottish Contemporary Art Network and University Alliance.
Read the manifesto here
Press
‘UK arts bodies urge incoming government to stand up for the culture sector’. Read The Art Newspaper’s article
‘Visual arts organisations call for investment from next Government’. Read the Standard’s article
‘Visual arts organisations call for investment from next Government’. Read the Independent’s article
‘Visual arts organisations call for investment from next Government’. Read the yahoo! news article
