New legislation would boost pay for New Brunswick artists

New Brunswickers celebrate their culture, but artists haven't always been paid in a way that reflects that pride. The provincial government introduced legislation Friday that's meant to address that problem.

If passed, the Status of the Artist Act would recognize the arts as a profession. In practical terms, this would mean a requirement for written contracts and the payment of industry-standard fees by arts organizations, events and festivals the province funds. 

It would also lead to accreditation of artists organizations and festivals funded by the province and the development of regulations.

"The artistic community of New Brunswick has been advocating for this for 30 years," said Isabelle Thériault, minister of tourism, heritage and culture.

"The bill, first of all, defines what is a professional artist. Second, the requirement to have written contracts when you hire artists, professional artists, and three, the direct requirement to respect the national pay scales, so when you hire a professional artist, you have to respect the fee scales."

Thériault said she comes from an arts background herself so she knows firsthand how important it is to be paid fairly.

Before she became a member of the legislative assembly in 2018, Thériault had a career in the arts. She was a touring and musical director for the groups Ode à l'Acadie, Les Muses, and DRUM. 

She also founded a music school and was the executive and artistic director of the Festival Acadien de Caraquet. 

"I understand really well what the artists are going through," Thériault said. "I understand the struggle."

She said Premier Susan Holt was "really supportive" of a bill. "Our government recognizes the contribution of arts and culture in our society."

Most N.B. artists earn less than $40,000 per year

Around 2,700 people in the province work as artists. The cultural sector employs another 9,000 people, but they're generally not paid well.

Census data shows that more than 70 percent of artists in the province earn less than $40,000 per year. The median personal income of artists in 2020 was $27,400, which is 39 per cent lower than that of all New Brunswick workers.

Legislation like this was a recommendation of the Premier's Task Force on the Status of the Artist, which was established in 2014. Led by experts in the field, the task force was asked to recommend measures to improve the socioeconomic status of professional artists.

Julie Whitenect, the executive director of ArtsLink NB, said her organization has been involved in the workforce since the task force was established and she's heartened to see it yield practical results for artistic community.

"Artists are essential to New Brunswick's health, resilience, and future," Whitenect said in a statement. "We applaud the government for acknowledging this through concrete action, and we remain committed to working with our partners and colleagues to ensure the implementation of policies that reflect the realities and needs of professional artists."

Six other provinces — Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta — have similar legislation. But Theriault said New Brunswick is going further than most with concrete action to boost how much artists are paid for their work.

"It's the fact that we are requiring that stakeholders funded by the government apply the national standard fee," Thériault said. "We went further than other legislation on that. We are really proud of being audacious on that, and we hope it's going to create a movement and artists will be recognized everywhere as professional artists."

If the legislation is passed, the established fee scales would take effect in the fall for artists being hired for projects under Parts I and II of the provincial government. 

Arts and culture organizations receiving funding from Parts I or II of the government would be granted a transition period and have until April 2027 to comply with the fee scales.

Thériault said artists should be recognized as working professionals and this legislation will help them get the respect and pay they deserve.

"It will help the artists, the stakeholders, the theatres, the festivals understand better what artists are going through and elevate the sector," she said.