FIA welcomes the final adoption of the Fair Culture Charter, a project undertaken and coordinated by the German Commission for UNESCO, modelled on the initial steps that led to the development of Fair Trade, now a global movement promoting a sustainable and ethical trading system.
Drafted by a select group of international experts, the charter was revised, enriched and completed by an Advisory Committee including FIA, FIM, governments, academics, artists’ associations from around the world, Fairtrade International and the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity.
The charter, which does not at this stage include the issuing of a label or other distinction to signatories, is primarily a call for voluntary commitments. It is a moral pledge for those who, whether public or private entities, civil society or the general public, share its values and wish to uphold and implement them.
It is a blend of international reference standards, models and best practices designed to promote a sustainable, equitable and ethical cultural environment organised around eight guiding principles. Centred on artists, the driving force behind creation, it recognises the importance of their contribution and highlights the many obstacles that still too often prevent them from making a dignified living from their art and craft. The Fair Culture Charter stresses the need to grant artists the conditions they need to break away from precarious and informal forms of work, while ensuring their freedom of expression. In the context of the digital environment and new technologies, this requires a fair share of the revenue generated by the online exploitation of their works, including via streaming platforms, as well as a framework ensure that the development and deployment of generative AI is based on the consent of creators and fair remuneration.
The Charter thus constitutes a true kaleidoscope, aimed at improving the conditions of artistic and cultural ecosystems at local, national, regional and global levels, in keeping with these eight principles, which include access to creation for under-represented groups and gender equality. The role of collective bargaining is equally highlighted as a model for promoting decent working conditions, adapted to the specificities of artistic and creative disciplines.
Although not a legally binding document, the Charter has been acknowledged by UNESCO as a key initiative to promote a more balanced flow of cultural goods and services, and to overcome structural inequalities in the sector on a global scale. Officially launched on 10 September at an online event broadcast live on social networks, the charter is now open for signature by new partners.
