Indignation among professional performing artists after the adoption at second reading of the “Creation” bill presented by the French government which makes provision for all companies in the entertainment business, whether subsidised or not, to be able to resort to using unpaid artists.
Under the guise of fostering amateur practices, the French government is organising the legalisation of negating the trade of performer, by suggesting that the work of a musician or actor does not need to be remunerated.
This is a historic regression, in a country which has the reputation for treating its artists worthily. It is also a serious step backwards with regard to article III.3 of the Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist, adopted unanimously in 1980 by Member States of Unesco (including France) and which stipulates that “Member States […] take all necessary steps to stimulate artistic creativity and the flowering of talent, in particular by adopting measures to secure greater freedom for artists, without which they cannot fulfil their mission, and to improve their status by acknowledging their right to enjoy the fruits of their work.” Making remuneration for artists optional, is, no more and no less, to deny such right.
FIM denounces this disturbing drift of the French government and parliament and calls on the latter urgently to correct this during the current process of examining the bill. The desirable and legitimate fostering of amateur practices should not exempt from respecting the profession of performer and the attached rights.
A petition in French is available here
Source: International Federation of Musicians (FIM)