And the W.A.G.E. certification goes to… ICA.
Francesca Amadio’s opinion on why should we pay attention to the fact that the ICA is the first museum certified by W.A.G.E.?
What’s W.A.G.E?
Working Artists and the Greater Economy is a New York organization that aims at creating and improving economic relationships between artists and non-profits art organizations. Since its certification program began in 2014, the Institute of Contemporary Art of Philadelphia is today the first museum certified by W.A.G.E. and, as ICA’s director Amy Sadao said, “it is hoped that many other institutions will follow this example”.
The ICA’s certification is a big step for the art world
The ICA is committed to monitor and pay fees based on its annual operating budget of $4.8 million, still Amy Sadao announced “Our partnership with W.A.G.E. helps to set a new standard in the museum field, one that ensures equitable environments for the artists with whom we work”.
What’s next?
This commitment is a clear signal in the art industry, it indicates that something is changing. “It demonstrates that a museum is capable of meeting external payment standards, and more importantly that those standards can be set by workers.” commented W.A.G.E. in a statement.
In my view, it also demonstrates that, in order to achieve a stable financial balance and to get closer to the enterprises operating structure, museums start to implement business logics and social responsibility policies, turning their attention to the compensation of all the stakeholders involved.
By joining this certification program, The Philadelphia museum acknowledges a new role to a particular category of stakeholders: artists. Up to this moment they were cut off from setting payment standards and were never comparable to other workers’ categories in the art industry, or in any other sector. The arts institutions in fact are used to not repay in monetary terms artists for exhibitions and events, since the advertising and the return that they draw is considered to be already an adequate reward.
“Is it right for artists to demand an economic remuneration for their working relationships with institutions?
Is it fair to consider artistic production as a service?
These are questions of particular importance and difficult response.” — Francesca Amadio
What can we learn from this?
What is certain is that the W.A.G.E. certification shows that there is now a tendency from museums and non profit organisations to adapt to the market logic. We are now reaching a phase in which artists are recognised as workers and their bargaining power, is clearly emerging.
If ICA has agreed and managed to recognize these innovations in the art industry, could it be the beginning of a brand new market dynamic
Article by Francesca Amadio
