Aims and Objectives
Visual and applied artists working or resident in Scotland can become full or associate members by satisfying 4 or 2 of the membership criteria. Colleagues in arts management, education or the media can add their voice by joining as associate members - increasing the breadth of representation and forging an even more credible and compelling voice for the Scottish visual art community. SAU relies on an active and involved membership across Scotland – and every artist stands to benefit from politicising the working lives of creative individuals. The SAU lobbies the arts organisations and government bodies in Scotland and liases with relevant partners across the UK and beyond to ensure artists’ views are heard.
SAU History
| May 2000 | Idea launched at conference, Royal Glasgow Concert Hall |
| April 2001 | 500+ artists register support |
| May 2001 | Scottish Artists Union First Annual Conference, STUC Glasgow |
| May 2001 | SAU formally constituted and membership fee set |
| February 2002 | Paid membership rises to 119 |
| May 2002 | Second Annual Conference – Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh - Launch Rates of Pay document |
| Nov 2002 | Rates of Pay endorsed by the SAC and given support by the Scottish Executive |
| March 2003 | SAU Launch nation-wide roadshow |
| April 2003 | Paid up membership at 204 |
Aims
Research shows that, while the visual arts bring huge benefit to the people of Scotland, of all arts practitioners, visual artists endure the lowest incomes:
the economic position of artists percentage of artists earning more than 2/3 of income from art
(source: A Socio-Economic Study of Artists in Scotland, 1996)
A staggering 82% of visual artists recently surveyed (by far the highest proportion all artforms) earned a mere £5,000 per year (gross) or less, from their artistic activity.
The Scottish Artists Union aims to improve the working conditions of visual artists practising in Scotland, and to raise awareness of the contribution of artists to the public life and the economy of Scotland.
Objectives
• Lobbying
on behalf of visual artists
• Protecting & extending artists’ rights
• Negotiating a wide range of benefits