UK Arts Policy Fails Artists, Exacerbating Financial Precarity Before and After COVID-19

Historically, fair compensation for artists has been overlooked by Arts Council England. Founded in 1945, the Arts Council of Great Britain aimed to assist artists but often favored organizations over individual needs. In the 1980s, an Exhibition Payment Right was introduced, yet galleries only complied 5% of the time. The Year of the Artist initiative in 2000 fell short of delivering promised financial support, with artists frequently receiving just half of their fees. During Tony Blair's tenure, increased funding from ACE did not address fair pay, and the 2008 financial crisis revealed the sector's vulnerabilities. Research from ACE between 2003 and 2006 indicated that half of visual arts organizations were unable to compensate artists. Many artists, primarily self-employed, struggle with negotiation and were ineligible for COVID-19 relief. Initiatives like Artsrewild promote artist-focused approaches, while the Fabian Society recommends transferring funding to local governments.