Having launched in 2014, Artists’ Union England is now established as the first trade union for visual, applied, and socially engaged artists in England, Artforum reports. The AUE stands for fair remuneration for labour and defends against unpaid labour. On 6 June 2016, the union was awarded a Certificate of Independence proving that it is free of employers’ influence and operates democratically for and on behalf of its professional membership. In a statement the union has said, ‘fair and transparent payment for artists is not only ethically desirable, but vital for a sustainable and vibrant art world.’
The current committee includes:
Angela Kennedy (Gateshead)
Hayley Hare (London)
Theresa Easton (Newcastle)
Pam Foley (Oxfordshire)
Vanessa Maurice-Williams (Brighton & Hove)
Martin Sundram (London)
Lalya Gaye (Newcastle)
Millicent Hawk (London)
Alexandra Lazar (London)
Aidan Moesby (Gateshead)
23 June 2016