FAIR PAY GUIDELINES
Why Fair Pay Matters
Fair compensation is essential for sustaining Scotland's creative ecosystem and ensuring Black and Global Majority creatives and cultural professionals can maintain sustainable careers. When engaging professionals from our directory, we strongly encourage adherence to industry standard rates and best practices for fair payment.
Scottish Artists Union Rates (2026-2027)
Hourly Rates
New Graduate Artist
£31.00 per hour
3+ Years' Experience
£37.10 per hour
5+ Years' Experience
£45.80 per hour
Sessional Rates
Day rates are based on an 8-hour day, minimum ‘call’ is for a 4-hour session. Additional hours over 8-hours should be at a minimum of the appropriate hourly rate (see above).
New Graduate Artist
£248.00 p/day (£124.00 p/ ½ day)
3+ Years' Experience
£296.80 p/day (£148.40 p/ ½ day)
5+ Years' Experience
£366.40 p/day (£183.20 p/ ½ day)
The variations in rates relate to qualifications/experience, which are defined by ‘years as a working artist’, and would be evidenced by a professional CV, indicating the artist’s art world track record and/or unique attributes.
Residency Rates
New Graduate Artist
£33,255 p/annum (pro rata)
5+ Years' Experience
£44,980 p/annum (pro rata)
Important Notes About These Rates
What These Rates Include
○ These rates apply to freelance and short contract employment
○ Covers consultancy work, project planning and development
○ Includes all aspects of workshop delivery (set up, execution, clear up)
○ Applies to other freelance activity
What These Rates Exclude
○ Artist's expenses for specific projects
○ VAT where relevant
○ Professional overheads (approximately £9,300 per year)
○ Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions
Experience Levels
○ Experience is defined by 'years as a working artist'
○ Should be evidenced by a professional CV
○ Takes into account artist's art world track record
○ Considers unique attributes and qualifications
Important Considerations for Employers
○ Rates are GROSS earnings
○ Self-employed artists need to set aside 25-30% for tax and NI
○ All residencies should be calculated on a pro rata basis where 20+ working days
○ These are minimum recommended rates - artists are free to negotiate higher rates
Additional Costs to Consider
When budgeting for artistic work, remember to include:
● Materials and equipment
● Travel expenses
● Studio costs
● Insurance
● Research and development time
● Administrative costs
● Professional development
● Wellbeing or therapeutic support
Best Practice Guidelines
Contracts
○ Always provide written agreements
○ Clearly state payment terms
○ Include project scope and deliverables
○ Specify rights and usage terms
Payment Terms
○ Agree payment schedule in advance
○ Consider stage payments for longer projects
○ Include payment timeframes
○ Factor in preparation time
Annual Review
These rates are reviewed annually by the Scottish Artists Union to reflect:
● Cost of living increases
● Inflation rates
● Industry standards
● Economic conditions
Further Information
For the most up-to-date rates and detailed information, please refer to:
● Scottish Artists Union: www.artistsunion.scot
Note: These rates are the minimum recommendations from the Scottish Artists Union for 2026-2027. Artists are at all times free to negotiate rates of pay different to those set out above.