CARFAC Minimum Fee Schedule

Artists, like professionals in other fields, should be paid for their work.

The CARFAC minimum fee schedule is sort of like a minimum wage for artists. It sets minimum recommended rates for the use of artwork and certain services that visual artists provide.

Widely recognized as the national standard, rates are all recommendations. That said, many arts councils require that public galleries pay artist’s fees as a condition of their funding. And artists have rights that help them to get paid.

For example, did you know that when your work is exhibited and it’s not for sale, you are supposed to be paid? Unless you have signed over the copyright, no one can exhibit or copy your work without your permission. This is your negotiating trump card – you can always walk away if you don’t like the conditions under which you are being asked to work.

It’s also important to note that all rates are minimums – CARFAC encourages artists to ask for more.

The fee schedule itself is a complicated document with many tables and notes. This is because the work that artists do simply won’t fit into one or two boxes. Be sure to read all the notes in the relevant section – they can sometimes change the rates depending on the circumstances.

If you have any questions about the fee schedule, the staff at CARFAC would be more than happy to walk you through it – just give us a shout!

History

The CARFAC Minimum Fee Schedule is available on the Canadian Artists Representation Copyright Collective website.

Since 1968, CARFAC has issued its exhibition fee schedules. These schedules were developed from rates established by Jack Chambers and Tony Urquhart in 1968. They are updated yearly through negotiation and usage, and reflect increases in the cost of living. All fees are considered minimum payments for the use of the copyrights and/or the professional services of visual and media artists.

The payment of the Exhibition Right for the public exhibition of artistic production became part of federal copyright law in 1988. This exhibition fee is payment for the use of work created after June 7, 1988 in an exhibition in a public space where the gallery receives public funds. The exhibition fee only applies when the artwork shown is not being actively presented for sale or hire. When art works created after June 7, 1988 in a gallery’s permanent collection are exhibited, a copyright exhibition fee is required to be paid. Copyright fees and royalties are subject to GST; the GST is not included in the listed fees.