Austria/ 8.1 Support to artists and other creative workers  

8.1.4 Support to professional artists associations or unions

Professional associations and interest groups are associations with restricted membership, aiming at representing the common interests of their members' vis-à-vis the general public, other professional associations or the state. They regard themselves as lobbyists for creative artists and cultural workers and / or operators and assist their members in professional questions and conduct. Traditionally, they are involved in many decisions, including consultations on bills and other issues, and frequently serve as negotiating partners in policy decisions.

The Austrian Council for Culture (Kulturrat Österreich) is a union of interest groups of artists and creators of culture. It is a platform for shared cultural-policy issues and objectives and it represents these to politics, media and administrations. The Kulturrat Österreich opens and promotes cultural, educational, media and socio-political debates. The 12 members are:           

• ASSITEJ Austria;
• Dachverband der Filmschaffenden (umbrella organisation of film-makers);
• Gewerkschaft Kunst, Medien, Sport, freie Berufe (KMSfB; Arts, Media, Sports and Freelance Workers' Union;
• IG Bildende Kunst (IG Fine Arts);
• IG Freie Theaterarbeit (IG Freelance Theatre Work);
• IG Kultur Österreich (IG Culture);
• konsortium.Netz.kultur (consortium netculture);
• Musikergilde (Musicians' Guild);
• Österreichischer Musikrat (Austrian Music Council);
• Übersetzergemeinschaft, Interessenvertretung der literarischen und wissenschaftlichen ÜbersetzerInnen in Österreich (Austrian Association of Literary & Scientific Translators);
• Verband Freier Radios Österreich (VFRÖ; Association of Austrian Free Radio); and
• Verein der Sprecher und Darsteller VOICE (association of speakers and actors).

In addition to these and the eight Austrian copyright collecting societies (see chapter 5.1.7), there are professional associations active in the fields of arts and culture, for example:

• IG ("Interessengemeinschaft" / interest group) Autorinnen / Autoren, including the association of playwrights;
• Österreichische Komponistenbund (Austrian Composers' Society);
• Österreichischer Musikrat (ÖMR; Austrian Music Council);
• Mica (Music Information Centre Austria);
• IG Kultur Österreich with nine provincial offices;
• Dachverband der Filmschaffenden Österreichs (Austrian Filmmakers Association);
• Zentralvereinigung der Architekten Österreichs (Central Association of Austrian Architects Österreichs);
• IG Architektur,
• Österreichische Gesellschaft für Architektur (ÖGFA; Austrian Society for Architecture);
• IG Bildende Kunst (IG visual Arts); and
• Design Austria.

Moreover, artists have the possibility of joining the Gewerkschaft Kunst, Medien, freie Berufe, a trade union representing professional and social interests of self-employed and / or employed creative artists, journalists, art educators, art administrators, event organisers and related professions in the areas of art, the media, education, and sports.

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