In what is an important moment for the rights of artists, the Supreme Court in Canada ruled on May 14th in favour of binding minimum fees for the payment of artists (similar to a minimum wage) at the National Gallery of Canada.
In a perceived conflict between the Status of the Artist Act and the Copyright Act, representative associations CARFAC (Canadian Artists Representation/Le Font des Artists Canadiens) and RAAV (Regroupement des Artistes en Arts Visuels) argued for the binding minimum fees, whereas the National Gallery opposed this for taking away the right of the artist to be paid less, if they chose.
The proceedings followed an appeal on behalf of artists which was unanimously approved by the bench. In permitting this appeal, the Court rejected the argument against minimum fees – unusually, after merely oral arguments, a decision was reached immediately.
Of the verdict, President of CARFAC Grant McConnell is quoted as saying “It’s a good day for artists…This is a major victory for all artists in Canada and Quebec.”
Source: CARFAC website
Artists outside the Supreme Court. Photo: CARFAC website.
