The Scottish Artists Union has from its inception been concerned with establishing recognised national standards in artists’ contracts and payments, as it is often difficult for artists to quantify the value of their work. We have therefore prepared some recommended rates of pay which members may wish to use as a guide when negotiating payment for their work on short-term contracts, sessional work and residencies that are paid on a self-employed basis.
The Scottish Artists Union is conscious that the economic climate remains difficult it is however important that it continues to promote an appropriate increase in the typical rates of pay we recommend.
Rates of Pay should apply to a wide range of freelance and short contract employment from consultancy work, project planning and development, to all aspects of workshop delivery (set up, execution, clear up) and other freelance activity.
SAU have considered recent rates of inflation and recommend a 2% increase on last year’s RRoP for artists and makers with 3+ years’ experience and 3.5% increase for new graduates (to bring comparable employment hourly rates in line with The Real Living Wage of £12.60). Rates exclude artist’s expenses for a specific project and VAT where relevant.
SAU Rates of Pay 2025-2026
Hourly Rates
New Graduate Artist
£29.30 per hour
3+ Years' Experience
£36.30 per hour
5+ Years' Experience
£44.90 per hour
Sessional Rates
Day rates are based on an 8-hour day, minimum ‘call’ is for a 4-hour session. Additional hours over 8-hours should be at a minimum of the appropriate hourly rate (see above).
New Graduate Artist
£234.40 p/day (£117.20 p/ ½ day)
3+ Years' Experience
£290.40 p/day (£145.20 p/ ½ day)
5+ Years' Experience
£359.20 p/day (£179.60 p/ ½ day)
The variations in rates relate to qualifications/experience, which are defined by ‘years as a working artist’, and would be evidenced by a professional CV, indicating the artist’s art world track record and/or unique attributes.
Residency Rates
New Graduate Artist
£31,671 p/annum (pro rata)
5+ Years' Experience
£44,100 p/annum (pro rata)
These residency rates are guidelines aimed at organisations who offer artists' residencies, where the artist is solely focusing on their development for a period of time and are also in receipt of the other benefits that come with being on a residency.
They do not apply to self-organised development or individuals running freelance projects over a longer time period.
All residencies should be calculated on a pro rata basis where the residency is of 20+ working days.
The variations in rates relate to qualifications/experience as above.
Further Explanation:
The Recommended Rates of Pay have been prepared as a comparison to paid employment.
These Recommended Rates of Pay are provided for guidance purposes, as artists are, at all times, free to negotiate rates of pay different to those set out above. Rates assume appropriate professional conduct by the Artist.
The Scottish Artists Union encourages all artists and those who wish to contract artists, to make use of this information. Please contact us directly, if you have any questions or comments.
N.B. These rates and further explanations and calculations can be downloaded as a PDF file here.