Pay, Passion, or Prestige? On the development of Fair Practice awareness in the European cultural sector | May 2026 in Amsterdam 

© Iris Hoppe

Under the title "Pay, Passion, or Prestige? On the development of Fair Practice awareness in the European cultural sector", cultural practitioners, artists and representatives from the political sphere and European networks were invited to discuss issues surrounding fair working conditions and labour relations in the European context. The BEYOND event organised by Culture Action Europe’s West Satellite took place on 8 and 9 May 2026 in Amsterdam, organised by Kunsten ’92 and forming part of a two-day programme by Dutch Culture, the European Cultural Foundation and EIT Culture & Creativity to mark Europe Day.

Through a variety of formats, participants were able to engage in discussion on values, challenges and specific measures to strengthen fair practices in the European cultural sector. Fair remuneration for artists and cultural practitioners was one of the pressing issues discussed. National approaches and initiatives from individual countries were presented, including the Dutch Fair Practice Code. The fee matrix for North Rhine-Westphalia, which was drawn up in 2024 on behalf of the Conference of Ministers of Culture and formed the basis for a guideline on minimum fees in the cultural sector in North Rhine-Westphalia – effective from January 2026 – was also brought into the discussion for comparative purposes.

The central question remained: How can fairness in cultural work be conceived and implemented in a cross-border European context?

Culture Action Europe’s Satellite BEYOND events are regional events organised by CAE members or CAE Geographical Hubs in collaboration with local institutions and networks. The West Satellite covers Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

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