A union for artists… Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!
The US film and music industry have a union, and I know that it has helped those creatives make a better life for themselves and have safer working conditions too. My sister-in-law who works as a script supervisor in Hollywood really sings the union’s praises. And I listen.
Why would fine artists who are independent entrepreneurs want a union? How about if we had a union in the US, we could negotiate insurance premiums as a big group for better rates. We could enforce fair trade practices like getting paid by galleries within 90 days of sale.
I’ve been super fortunate to have been with gallerists who were honest, but not everyone has had the same experience. I personally know several artists who’ve had their work stolen, damaged, and sold but never saw a single penny for their art. The clout of a union and it’s legal department could help artists fight for their rights.
Read about the Union here:Â http://artforum.com/news/id=60754
The photo of the unionists is from the Artforum article linked above. I looked for a photo credit but didn’t find one.Anyone know who the photographer is?