– “I want to apply for an art sector work allowance, but it seems you need an artwork certificate for that.” – “Do you also need an artwork certificate for the Arts Decree?” – “I don’t think so.” – “And would I then work via an amateur arts allowance (AKV)? This is not how you build a sustainable career. Is that fair practice?” – “I would ask an Social Bureau for Artists.”
Feel like a tourist in the arts field? One that doesn’t speak the language? That’s not surprising: the sector has its own jargon. Don’t worry, we’ll help you crack the code. We start with the basics and round off ceremoniously with a festival of abbreviations.
Are there any other words or abbreviations that you often hear but don’t understand? Send an email to advies@kunsten.be. We’d be happy to help you, and who knows, your request may also end up in this hacker guide.
Artists often use this description when talking about their work. Since 1 January 2024, the introduction of the ‘artwork certificate’ has also given it legal significance. We explain that here.
According to the law of 16 December 2022, when assessing an artistic practice, the Artwork Commission must take into account the artistic activities within the domains of “the audiovisual and visual arts, music, literature, spectacle, theatre, choreography and comic strips”. Artistic, artistic-technical as well as artistic-supporting activities can be considered artistic activities provided that they constitute a necessary contribution to an artistic creation or performance.
Why is this important? The Artwork Commission will assess your application for an artwork certificate based on the file you submit. It must also take into account your professional income and time investment to assess the professional nature of your artistic practice. The criteria it uses in this regard will be made known anonymously in the future.
This could be an artist, researcher or curator who is invited to temporarily move into a living and working space separate from their own environment. During such a residency, they will have the opportunity to conduct research, create new work or prepare exhibitions (see residency).
A form of contract in which an artist is not an employee but still enjoys the same social security rights. You receive a salary, enjoy social security benefits and have a contract with a client, but it’s not an employment contract. You will need an artwork certificate for this, which you can request via the Working in the Arts website.
More information about the ‘Article 1bis’ scheme can be found at Cultuurloket.
Minimum gross wages have been agreed per sector in so-called collective bargaining agreements (CBAs, see below). These are placed in tables in which the amounts increase over time. There is a wage scale for each (group of) jobs(s) that indicates the minimum wage to which you are entitled, taking into account your seniority. People can also change pay scales when their job changes.
B1c is a wage scale for an artistic collaborator under Joint Industrial Council 329.01. An artistic collaborator can be a programmer or curator, but also an artist.
Joint Industrial Council 304 determines the salary scales for performing artists and musicians.
If you have to negotiate an assignment as an artist but you’re not working with employee status, you can also use these amounts as a reference for your fee.
Advocacy groups represent a sector or professional group.
This guide contains an overview of advocacy groups in the arts field.
The culture superstructure is a group of intermediary organisations – including Flanders Arts Institute – that forms the link between policy and the cultural field. This group of organisations aims to give the cultural field the competences it needs to realise its objectives and to remain future-proof.
Fair practices encompass solidarity among colleagues, correct payment, zero tolerance for transgressive behaviour, actively working on anti-racism, trust and security, gender equality, anti-misogyny, ecology and much more. Flanders Arts Institute regularly enters into dialogue with the sector on this topic. Together we are building a future-oriented arts field where everyone is treated correctly and fairly. Be sure to visit Juist is Juist for principles, tools and model agreements.
This is not a legal term. Working as a freelancer means: not in an employment relationship, not as an employee, but as commissioned. You don’t necessarily need self-employed status for this; you can also work through a ‘temporary employment agency for freelancers’ (see SBK).
Sometimes people talk of the freelancing of the sector. This means that artists’ practices are becoming increasingly “hybrid and flexible” and that permanent employment among artists is becoming rarer. This creates freedom and opportunities, but is not always positive for the socio-economic position of the artist.
The Arts Decree regulates the subsidisation of the professional arts in the Flemish Community for the disciplines of dance, performance, (music) theatre, multi- and transdisciplinary art, architecture and design, music, sound art and experimental media art, photography and cross-sectoral art. It determines the procedures for applying for and awarding various forms of subsidy, such as:
Short-term subsidies, such as projects and grants, but also specific forms of international support
Operating subsidies for arts organisations
Operating subsidies for the Art Institutions
Flanders Arts Institute regularly organises information sessions about subsidising artists and organisations. Definitely recommended for those who have little or no experience with subsidies. We do this in collaboration with Cultuurloket, VI.BE and VAi. Keep an eye on our site and register in time!
An artwork certificate allows you to take advantage of some (social) benefit rules as an artist or art worker:
The ‘primostarter’ scheme for self-employed art sector workers
The ‘Article 1bis’ scheme
The art sector work allowance
The tax regime for copyrights
More information about the artwork certificate can be found at Cultuurloket.
The art sector work allowance was created to better accommodate periods between assignments. It’s not about a specific working status for artists, but about a form of protection for artists and art sector workers. It contains, among other things, a set of rules about remuneration and benefits.
Artists often have erratic careers. They don’t simply hop from job to job. They need recovery time, time for research, for inspiration, etc.
With the art sector work allowance, the amount of your benefit will not decrease over time. You are also not obliged to apply for work. At the same time, you are bound by the pay wage scales of your sector, just like an employee. To apply for the art sector work allowance, you must first have an artwork certificate. You can request an artwork certificate via the Working in the Arts website.
Residencies provide a place for artists to develop further substantively, usually for a specific period of time. Artists-in-residence temporarily live on site and usually follow a residency programme. The aim is to gain insight into one’s own practice through introspection. They are guided in their artistic development. Through the residency they can expand their knowledge and network in the arts field.
If you receive a buy-out amount, this means that a total price is paid for presenting your production, concert or your visual work. In the latter case, one often speaks of a fee. The risk lies 100% with the organiser or venue. This gives certainty to the performing artist/association, but in the case of a large audience turnout, you are not entitled to extra income. In any case, make clear and written agreements well in advance!
A trade union is an advocacy group for employees. Usually people talk about an employees’ association, but as an unemployed person, freelancer or self-employed person without personnel, you can usually also join a union. It is a member association and so you are expected to pay a membership fee. A trade union is there to protect your rights in terms of work and income and to negotiate for you if necessary. In the event of temporary unemployment, the union will pay your benefit. Joining a trade union is your right (part of the right to associate), but not an obligation. For example, unemployed persons who are not affiliated with a trade union can also turn to the Auxiliary Fund for Sickness and Invalidity Insurance (HZIV) for their benefits.
Artists can join a union of their choice, for which a contribution is requested:
You don’t have to tell your employer whether you are a member of a trade union and, in principle, it cannot inquire about it.
Basics
Festival of abbreviations
The amateur arts allowance (or AKV) is actually an expense allowance for artistic work. The advantage is that you receive the full amount, without deduction of social security costs, etc. As a client who calls upon an artist, you do not pay normal social security contributions for the artist’s work under this system. This is also a disadvantage, because with the AKV you do not build up any social security rights (such as pensions and unemployment benefits). There are also limits concerning time and amount.
Artists and clients who want to work with an AKV can do so via the Working in the Arts website.
A collective bargaining agreement. A CBA is an agreement between the representatives of employers and employees. A CBA regulates the rights and obligations as well as the individual and collective relationships of employers and employees.
Sectoral CBAs are concluded by the competent joint industrial council. The agreements in these CBAs therefore only apply to this sector:
Joint industrial council PC 227 handles the CBA for the audiovisual sector
Department of Culture, Youth and Media of the Flemish Government. This department advises the minister(s) in realising and monitoring an integrated policy vision for the policy area. It is charged with the preparation, follow-up and evaluation of policy on culture, youth, sports and media, including when this affects the competence of other departments. Among other things, it organises the assessment of subsidy applications within the Arts Decree.
Since the Flemish elections of June 2024, Minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit) is responsible for culture, Minister Melissa Depraetere (Vooruit) is responsible for youth, and Minister Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA) is responsible for media.
Overleg KunstenOrganisaties is the advocacy group, employers’ federation and network organisation of more than 240 professional arts organisations in Flanders and Brussels By uniting, these organisations aim to champion the position of the arts in our society. They exchange information and share knowledge about all aspects of artistic and business management. They also regularly take positions to negotiate correct agreements on terms of employment and to advocate a sound arts policy.
At the request of and together with policymakers, employers’ and employees’ organisations, the National Social Security Office is responsible for:
correct and timely collection of social security contributions,
collecting and verifying wage and working time data,
assisting employers and social service providers with their declarations,
the financing of the social security system
The National Employment Office (RVA) applies the unemployment insurance system and a number of employment measures. The RVA is also responsible for the career break and time credit schemes. It is the RVA that decides whether you are entitled to unemployment benefits and what this amount will be.
Social Bureau for Artists. An SBK works like a temporary employment agency, with the difference that an SBK does not find assignments for you. It does, however, arrange all administrative details with the client. You will be hired by the SBK for the assignment and then dismissed afterwards. The paperwork is done for you and you enjoy full social security protection. But note, you have to pay a percentage for this service. Some artists include this in the negotiations with their client, for example by asking to share the costs for the SBK.
Flemish Employment and Training Service. The VDAB is the employment service of Flanders. There are two situations in which you are obliged to register with the VDAB: if you have just left school or just graduated, and when you want to apply for unemployment benefits.
