Europe is often celebrated for its rich culture and heritage, yet there is a stark disconnect between the value ascribed to culture and the support afforded to cultural creators. This discrepancy raises a critical question: why are the individuals who enrich our lives with art and culture left to struggle in precarious working conditions?
In modern Europe, the greatest investments in culture come from the artists and cultural professionals themselves. These individuals face low pay, unstable incomes, and atypical working conditions. Their work arrangements are frequently discontinuous, and job security is a rare commodity. If they were granted the same rights and protections as other industries, cultural offerings would likely become less accessible due to increased costs.
According to 2022 figures from the European Union’s statistical office, 31.7% of Europe’s cultural and creative workers are self-employed, compared to just 14% across the broader economy. Furthermore, a study by the European Parliamentary Research Service highlights that the cultural sector has one of the highest rates of bogus self-employment in the EU. This troubling statistic underscores the need for urgent reforms.
Accessing social security is another significant challenge for these professionals. The nature of their work often requires them to tour abroad, leading to complications with differing administrative procedures and work status definitions at the national level. Additionally, the rise of digitisation and generative artificial intelligence poses a further threat to their livelihoods. Censorship is also on the rise, restricting freedom of artistic expression and consequently impacting earnings.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues. The cultural sector came to a standstill due to successive lockdowns, resulting in the cancellation of shows and postponement of exhibitions. This situation had severe financial consequences for workers already dealing with precarious conditions. The pandemic laid bare the unviability of the current labour model for cultural professionals, highlighting the need for systemic change.
Recognising the gravity of the situation, the European Parliament drafted a legislative report last year, co-authored by the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. This report calls for the establishment of an EU framework on the social and professional situation of artists and other professionals in the cultural and creative sector through both legislative and non-legislative measures.
The proposed framework includes a directive aimed at ensuring decent working conditions and correctly determining the employment status of cultural and creative workers to curb bogus self-employment. It also proposes establishing decisions to work towards EU quality standards in the sector.
Another significant initiative in the report is the introduction of ‘social conditionality’ in the next cycle of EU cultural funding programmes, such as Creative Europe. This principle would ensure that EU, national, or collective labour and social obligations are always met as part of such projects. It would also guarantee that artists are fairly remunerated, including compensation for time spent in rehearsals or preparing funding applications.
The proposal was adopted on 21 November 2023, with a decisive 433 votes in favour, sending a strong political signal to the European Commission on the need for better labour protections for cultural professionals. The Commission now has a few weeks to respond to this legislative initiative.
By addressing these issues, Europe can better support its cultural professionals, ensuring they receive the recognition and security they deserve. This would not only enhance their livelihoods but also enrich the cultural landscape of the continent for future generations.
