New model for payment for cultural work
politics
In 2022, the Salzburg provincial government will be the first in Austria to begin implementing the old demand for fairer wages, salaries and fees in the cultural scene. As a first step, the “Fair Pay” initiative will provide one million euros from taxpayers’ money by 2024.
This was shared by the Salzburg cultural advisor and LHStv. Heinrich Schellhorn (Greens) on Monday. The sum only covers part of the requirement. Initially, it only applies to employees.
“The aim is to secure everyone”
At the same time, they are working on a “fair pay” concept for self-employed cultural workers, said Schellhorn: “Like salaried colleagues, they should be better paid in the coming years and find fair working and conditions in Salzburg.” The aim is to attract all employees in the Art and culture scene emerge to secure.
According to surveys, only half of the cultural staff in Austria is paid by associations, according to the politician. A mere four percent of employees would have a full-time position, another ten percent work part-time. In the 2018 income report, the arts were ranked penultimate among 18 categories – with an average gross annual income of just over 20,000 euros.
Own working group develops criteria
For five months, a working group worked out the requirements for “fair pay” in Salzburg. The result is a salary scheme that is based on the years of service and the type of professional activity: from distributing flyers and room service on one end and to management or the programming of festivals or annual programs on the other.
Response of the umbrella organization
“The model developed by IG Kultur provides for an increase in wages, salaries and fees to a level of at least 70 percent of the scheme in a first step,” says Thomas Randisek, Managing Director of the Salzburg Cultural Centers umbrella association. Those who fall below this benchmark can apply for funding or, in some cases, make medium-term funding agreements: “But the clear goal is to get 100 percent of the scheme. That would be possible within three to four years if the federal, state and local governments specifically set aside a funding amount for Fair Pay in their budgets. “