Opinion | Henriëtte van Gasteren, Award winning Multimedia Artist
I regularly slide around the table to discuss exhibition opportunities. The table I sit at is often well-stocked: policy makers, project managers, communications staff, grant advisors. All professionals with salaries, paid for their time and expertise. And there I sit, as artist, initiator of the project, with no financial security, no honorarium for all those consultations.
My submitted budget is on the table, ready to be weighed and reviewed. My working hours, my travel expenses, my preparation, materials – everything is being scrutinized. Everyone has to think something of it, and I depend on their judgment. The advice I get: contribute travel and consultation hours “in kind,” meaning I continue to invest unpaid in my own project. Sometimes I sit in such meetings four to five times a week, physically or through Teams. Always with people who do get paid for it.
This is fundamentally unfair. Art and culture are hailed as essential to society, but the creators themselves are structurally underpaid – or in many cases not paid at all. While policies are written about fair compensation, the assumption persists that artists value their passion over their livelihood.
Art also now plays a crucial role in historiography and social discussions. Works of art record what would otherwise be lost, give voice to those who remain unheard and form new perspectives on our shared history. They challenge prevailing norms, offer insights and bring about change. Without artists, these stories would remain untold and important social developments would not receive the attention they deserve.
Creativity and artistic vision are not optional luxuries; they are part of the breeding ground for a society that learns, grows and develops. Without fair compensation, many artists will of necessity drop out, and with them disappear the stories, insights and critical perspectives that enrich our collective consciousness and drive intellectual progress. Making art is work. And work deserves fair compensation.
Note: If my budget were approved without lengthy discussion, the process would probably be cheaper for the other party and 100% certain to result in an impressive exhibit. The hours now spent by salaried staff on budget review and feasibility may cost more than the project itself.
Photo: ‘A House Is Not A Home’ self-portrait HJIMvanGASTEREN