FRANK Initiation Year
October 2022 - October 2023
FRANK is creating a set of applicable solutions that holistically addresses fair remuneration of artistic labour, working conditions and fair contracts. FRANK collaborates with artists, art organisations, funding bodies and commissioning agencies to employ methods and structures that are responsive to our transitioning society, and prioritises inclusive and intersectional working.
To achieve FRANK’s aims of systemic change in the conversation and practice around fair pay for artists, FRANK is enrolling supporters to collaborate with us on developing and realising our proposed solutions in the initiation year.
For FRANK, we see a value in having a 12 month ‘initiation’ in place to foster strong collaborative relationships with our supporters, collaborators and members. We use the term ‘initiation’ as we see this stage as a process to have robust administration and organisational systems in place that can allow the creative components of the project – the FRANK tools – to expand and develop, influenced by ongoing evaluation and feedback by all involved.
Key Outputs
FRANK Tools
FRANK Principles & Guidance
A set of principles and guidance for member organisations to align with, agreed with membership.
FRANK Conceptual Fair Pay Calculator
Provides context-specific calculation of the amount of labour demanded from an artist including Administration, Planning, Research & Development, Delivery, Access Cost, etc. The calculator will enable a collective acknowledgement around the financial and systemic responsibility of hiring artists.
FRANK Document Templates
A set of transparent and accessible artist contracts templates that consider the different needs, livelihoods and labour of artists (developed in collaboration with Canvas Art Law).
FRANK Community
Composed of artists, arts institutions, funding bodies and unions in the UK.
FRANK Manifesto
Mission and Values which will be published on the website
FRANK Website
Functions as a repository of resources and references alongside membership forums for needs and solutions around fair practices.
Join Us
We are inviting artists, arts organisations, funding bodies and commercial galleries to support FRANK’s initiation year. Your support will enable us to finalise the key outputs as stated above, and cover our admin costs.
After the initiation year FRANK will run an annual membership scheme which provides our members access to the tools developed, and supporting organisations in assessing their current practice and opportunities for change. FRANK’s membership charges vary on a sliding scale to respect the diverse resources of different art organisations.
Membership starts from £4 per year
Support Us
FRANK Fair Artist Pay CIC is a not for profit Community Interest Company that depends on the generosity of members of the Arts Community, patrons and businesses. You can help FRANK by becoming a FRANKLY Generous Member
FRANKLY Generous Members
Initiation Members
- Camden Art Centre
- Contemporary Visual Art Network England (CVAN)
- The Tetley
- Contemporary Art Society
- Delfina Foundation
- Gasworks
- Fabrica
- TACO!
- Jupiter Artland
- Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)
- Artquest
- De La Warr Pavilion
- The Box, Plymouth City Council
- Modern Art Oxford
- Fruitmarket
- John Hansard Gallery
- The Common Guild
- Drawing Room
- DASH
- Towner Eastbourne
- Turner Contemporary
- Design and Arts Copyright Society (DACS)
- Project Art Works
- CVAN South East
- Maureen Paley
Frequently Asked Questions
?
Artist – you can sign up through the ‘Join’ button. You will be led to a page asking for your details and billing information.
Organisations and galleries – Please email us at letsbefrankartistpay@gmail.com and let us know of your interest to become an initiation member. We will then send you an Initiation Supporter Form and an invoice.
Collectors and generous members – please email us at letsbefrankartistpay@gmail.com
FRANK believes that current solutions offered are not satisfactory and do not comply with fair practice, and often equate artist pay to teaching wages or the living wage rather than evaluating artistic pay as its own profession.
Current pay rates outlined lack full guidance on how to pay artists fairly, and lack distinction between the different forms of labour (eg. research / production / administration etc.) FRANK wants to produce a clear framework – FRANK Principles & Guidance – for fair practice and pay for artist which can work with institutions of different resources. Currently there is no legislative framework but we will be engaging with organisations and create solidarity. We can’t immediately change the law but will create pressure through solidarity.