Kunstenaars honorarium

About RKH

On this page you will read about the creation of the Artists' Remuneration Guidelines (RKH), the initiators of RKH and the ongoing development of the guideline.

ABOUT RKH

Initiators of the guideline are Kunstenbond, Platform Beeldende Kunst, Beroepsvereniging van Beeldende Kunstenaars and De Zaak Nu - united in BKNL. RKH is a joint initiative to achieve fair practice in professional contract practice between institutions and artists.

In addition to interest groups, art institutions and artists, more and more governments and cultural funds are endorsing and supporting the Guideline. The Mondriaan Fund, the national cultural fund for visual arts and cultural heritage, the Ministry of OCW and the private Fund 21 apply the Guideline in the practice of assessing applications. Regional funds such as Kunstcentrum Stroom The Hague, and the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, also endorse RKH and argue that it should be mandatory for every arts planning institution working with visual artists.

The Mondriaan Fund has budget in 2023 and 2024 for a scheme that encourages the application of the Guideline. Visual art institutions in the Netherlands that apply RKH can apply for partial compensation for fees to artists. The Ministry of OCW has made a budget available for this purpose.

Photo 1 - Remi van Raalte in her studio
Photo 2 - Remi van Raalte at work

Review of RKH

In the first anniversary year of RKH , five years after its implementation, a revised version of the Artist's Remuneration Guidelines was published in 2023. In this revised RKH, a differentiation was added for size of the organization entering into collaboration with an artist.

In the revised RKH, a distinction is visible between the fee for the presentation and the production efforts related to it. This means that the compensation for work by the artist for installation, maintenance and dismantling have been separated from the fee.

A manual for working with collectives has also been developed. After a thorough evaluation of the Artist's Remuneration Guidelines in 2022 by Berenschot commissioned by BKNL and the Mondriaan Fund, the Artist's Remuneration Guidelines were tightened in 2023 by research firm SiRM.

The evaluation by Berenschot showed that RKH has proven to be a useful tool in a short period of time. The standard-setting nature of RKH is generally endorsed by all.

The evaluation found that the strength of RKH lies in the simplicity of both the guideline itself and the calculator. The strength of the original scheme is also its weakness - interviewees indicated that the standard-setting RKH does not provide enough room for differentiation.

Commissioned by BKNL, research firm SiRM examined ways in which differentiation can be applied so that the multiplicity of types of artists, types of works of art and types of situations in which the work is displayed are taken more into account. The results were presented to BKNL's partners in 2023, with the revised guideline implemented in October 2023.

Photo 1 - Remi van Raalte in her studio
Photo 2 - Remi van Raalte at work

Considerations and definitions

1. Considerations RKH

The RKH was established considering that:

  • Visual artists are the source of visual art;
  • Museums, presentation institutions and visual artists recognize that the current method of honoring visual artists is often lacking in professionalism and that artists' bargaining power is weak;
  • The Social Economic Council and the Council for Culture conclude that the income position of workers in the cultural sector is worrisome;
  • The parties decided to draft a fee guideline based on the desire to improve the worrisome position of artists by professionalizing contract practice, making the conversation about reasonable remuneration for visual artists a regular part of the budget of presentations and other presentations without a sales goal;
  • The Minister of OCW is committed to good commissioning practices and a widely supported fee guideline that aims to improve the income position of visual artists;
  • On this basis, the participating organizations agree to apply the following RKH. This RKH aims to professionalize the contract and negotiation practice with regard to artists' fees in the visual arts, by rewarding artists for their work on behalf of presentations with no sales goal, separate from compensation for expenses. Other institutions working with visual artists are also urged to apply the Guideline. RKH is followed according to the principles 'apply or explain' and 'apply and explain' (see above).

2. Definitions

Art institution: a publicly accessible organization based in the Netherlands that exhibits contemporary visual art and has as its core activity the presentation of visual art and/or heritage without a sales objective.

Artist

One who creates work professionally within the framework of the visual arts.

Fine art

Contemporary and current forms of imagination produced by visual artists within one or more of the following areas:

  • Drawing, painting and graphic arts
  • Sculpture, (social) sculpture and installation art
  • Conceptual art, performance art, artistic research
  • Non-traditional forms of visual art
  • Photography
  • Audiovisual, digital, sound and (new) media art
  • Visual arts applications
  • Art in public space
Contractors

The art institution and the artist entering into an agreement regarding work done by the artist in the context of a presentation.

Artist's fee

Compensation for work agreed between contractors in connection with a presentation, separate from an expense or expense allowance.

New work

Work developed by the artist on commission or at the request of the art institution and/or work by the artist selected by the curator that has not previously been presented in a publicly accessible presentation.

Existing work

Work that does not require modification and has been previously presented at a publicly accessible presentation.

Adaptation of existing work

Work that does not fall within the categories of new work or existing work. For example, it may be existing work that needs to be redone or work to adapt an installation to the size of the presentation space.

Work

A wide range of activities, separate from the production of a work of art, that relate to the organization of an event or presentation, including any guest curatorship.

Solo presentation

A presentation featuring works by one artist.

Duo presentation

A presentation featuring works by two artists presenting together.

Group presentation

A presentation featuring works by two or more artists.

3. Apply or explain and apply AND explain

Here, with modified wording, RKH is walking in line with the principles of the Governance Code of Culture.

Those who, because of the character or size of their organization, wish to deviate from the artist's fees guideline are free to do so. In the context of accountability and transparency, however, it is important to be able to explain this. Hence the principle: 'apply or explain'. Even if the Directive is applied, it is important to inform the contract partner properly about its implementation. Hence also the principle 'comply and explain'.

Origins-history

Before 2017, there was no fee guideline or model in the Netherlands with a national effect. Each museum and presentation institution had its own fee policy for visual artists.

To gain a better understanding of the practice, at the end of 2014 Beeldende Kunst Nederland (BKNL) conducted an inventory among art museums, presentation institutions and visual artists on fees for presentations without a sales objective. The survey revealed that in two-thirds of the cases there was no fee. Both artists and institutions indicated a need for a guideline or flexible guideline to streamline the diversity of agreements and to make them more accountable.

In 2016, the visual arts sector joined forces to professionalize contract practice and achieve better agreements and mutual coordination on fees. The members of BKNL took the initiative for a practically applicable Guideline, which was launched on January 1, 2017.The Guideline and accompanying website were officially presented at the beginning of 2017 in the presence of Minister Bussemaker of the Ministry of OCW, the chair of the Social and Economic Council , Mariëtte Hamer, and Council for Culture chair Marijke van Hees. By signing a covenant, various organizations and art institutions endorsed the Directive. The broad support for the Directive demonstrates the strength of the visual arts field and the value of good mutual consultation and cooperation. With the Directive, the sector demonstrates social entrepreneurship and gives concrete form to improving the labor market position of artists.

To encourage the application of the Directive, the Mondrian Fund had an experimental regulation that provided for partial compensation for institutions applying the Directive. Currently, compensation can be requested through the temporary arrangement Artist's Fee. The Cabinet has made a budget available for this purpose through the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

The effectiveness of the Guideline is being monitored by BKNL. Research from 2018 shows that the Guideline is already catching on the first year after its introduction. The number of museums and institutions honoring artists has doubled in one year. Some 80 percent of artists and 90 percent of museums and art institutions are familiar with the Guideline. Two thirds of the institutions indicate that they actually apply the Directive; this is remarkable, because before the Directive was introduced, two thirds of the institutions did not pay any fees. An incentive contribution from the Mondriaan Fund appears to be crucial in this regard. The Guideline is appreciated as being clear and easy to apply in practice. Both artists and institutions feel strengthened in the discussion about money. The Guideline leads to better compensation for presentations without a sales goal and a more professional contract practice.

More than 100 museums and art institutions already apply the RKH in practice

1646 The Hague
38CC Delft
A Tale of a Tub Rotterdam
Ateliers '89
ArtphyStichting
BAK Utrecht
BARACCA Dordrecht
Baltan Laboratories Eindhoven
Bosch Parade 's-Hertogenbosch
Bonnefantenmuseum Maastricht
CBK Amsterdam Zuidoost
CBK Groningen
CBK Zeeland
CODA Museum Apeldoorn
Casco Utrecht
Centraal Museum Utrecht
Concordia Enschede
Coöperatie TAAK Amsterdam
DZIGA Nijmegen
De Appel arts centre Amsterdam
De Ateliers
De Fabriek Eindhoven
De Player Rotterdam
De Vleeshal Middelburg
De Waag
Dordrechts Museum
Drawing Centre Diepenheim
Eindhoven
Extrapool Nijmegen
FOTODOK Utrecht
Garage Rotterdam
Fabrikaat Nijmegen
Framer Framed Amsterdam
Frans Hals Museum | De Hallen Haarlem
Fries Museum Leeuwarden
Gastatelier Amsterdam
Groninger Museum
Groote Huis Deventer
The HEM
The New Institute Rotterdam
The Resort
Het Wilde Weten Rotterdam
Hotel Mariakapel Hoorn
If I Can't Dance Amsterdam
Impakt Utrecht
KAdE Amersfoort
KIK Kolderveen
KOP Breda
Keramiekmuseum Princessehof Leeuwarden
Kranenburgh Bergen
Kröller-Müller Museum Otterlo

Kunstenlab Deventer
Kunstfort Vijfhuizen
Kunsthuis Syb Beetsterzwaag
Kunstinstituut Melly
Kunstmuseum Den Haag
Kunstverein Amsterdam
LIMA Amsterdam
M4
MAD emergent art center
MIR-project
MU Eindhoven
MURALS Inc.
Mama Rotterdam
Manifesta Amsterdam
Marres Maastricht
Mauritshuis The Hague
Mediamatic Amsterdam
Motel Spatie
Museum Arnhem
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Museum Catharijneconvent Utrecht
Museum De Domijnen Sittard
Museum De Lakenhal Leiden
Museum Geert
Museum Het Valkhof Nijmegen
Museum MORE Gorssel
MyVillages Rotterdam
NP3 Groningen
National Museum of World Cultures
National Natural History Museum Naturalis Leiden
Nederlands Fotomuseum Rotterdam
Nest The Hague
Nieuw Dakota Amsterdam
Nieuwe Vide
Noorderlicht Groningen
Onomatopee Eindhoven
Oude Kerk Amsterdam
PAKT Amsterdam
PARKMuseum
POST Nijmegen
Paradox Edam
ParkNederlands
Parts Project The Hague
Pictura Dordrecht
PlaatsMaken Arnhem
Polderlicht Amsterdam
Printroom Rotterdam
Rijksmuseum Twenthe Enschede

Rijksmuseum van Oudheden Leiden
SEA Foundation Tilburg
Satelietgroep The Hague
Sign Groningen
Speelgoedmuseum Deventer
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Stedelijk Museum Breda
Stedelijk Museum Schiedam
Stichting Derde Wal
Stichting Lustwarande
Stichting Niet Normaal
Stichting Sonsbeek & State of Fashion
Stichting Video Power
Stroom The Hague
Suns and Stars Amsterdam
T.S.O.O. IJmuiden
TENT Rotterdam
Terra Art Projects Zoetermeer
Tetem Enschede
The Black Archives
The One Minutes Foundation Amsterdam
Tlön Projects
Tot Zover
TwentseWelle EnschedeSchunck Heerlen
Uitvaart Museum
V2 Rotterdam
Van Abbemuseum
Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
Van Goghmuseum Amsterdam
Verhalenhuis Belvedere
Villa Zebra Rotterdam
W139 Amsterdam
Watersnoodmuseum Ouwerkerk
West The Hague
Whatspace Tilburg
Willem Twee Kunstruimte
Witte Rook Breda
Zaans Museum
Zet Foundation Amsterdam
Zuiderzeemuseum Enkhuizen
Kunsthal de Fundatie
ramfoundation Rotterdam


Is your institution not listed here?
Mail to info@bknl.nl

Work category

More info
Less info

Exhibition participants

More info
Less info

Duration of the exhibition

More info
Less info

Organization size

More info
Less info

Monthly compensation (in hours)

More info
Less info

Production work (in hours)

More info
Less info

This amount is the minimum fee per participating artist, based on 2023 amounts. This amount serves as a starting point for an agreement.

Calculate

minimum fee

This amount is the minimum fee and should serve as a starting point for negotiation.

€ 0,-
Close
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Calculator