The number of artists, creators, and performers in Poland in 2024 amounted to around 62,400 people, with musicians making up the largest group (around 13,700 individuals) – according to a study conducted by SWPS University. Data from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (MKiDN) shows that about 69% of artists earn below the national average, while around 30% earn below the minimum wage. Representatives of the sector emphasize that social security for artists is crucial to sustaining and developing Poland’s cultural heritage.
“The draft act on social security for artists is still under discussion and eagerly awaited by the music industry. It’s meant to support those most in need — artists who were excluded from the system early in their careers. In the 1970s and 1980s, social security mechanisms were completely different. The state must act as a patron for the poorest and most vulnerable, and that’s the purpose of the proposed legislation,” says Anna Ceynowa, President of the Empower Poland Foundation, Chair of the Polish Music Market Council, and Communications Director at ZPAV, in an interview with the Newseria agency.
The aim of the new act
The draft law on the social security of professional artists, prepared by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, aims to provide support for those without stable income — individuals earning below the national average or temporarily unable to pay social security and health insurance contributions.
As the ministry points out, the issue of unstable and inadequate income among artists and cultural or creative sector workers has been growing for years. The problem stems largely from a mismatch between the nature of artistic work and the monthly obligation to pay social and health contributions. Many artists experience irregular employment, fluctuating earnings, or long periods without work.
“Ensuring social protection for artists is a serious challenge. During the communist era, artists performed under fixed state-controlled rates — there were no market mechanisms like today. Even popular and busy performers had little control over their fees or contracts, which were approved by the Ministry of Culture at very low rates,” explains Anna Ceynowa.
“There was no system to protect artists. The common perception that popularity equals financial security is far from the historical reality many artists faced.”
Findings from the SWPS study
According to research conducted by the SWPS University team led by Prof. Dorota Ilczuk, based on more than 5,000 survey responses, the average monthly income from artistic work in 2023 was 4,053 PLN, which is over 3,000 PLN less than the national average (7,155 PLN) at the time. The median income from artistic work stood at 2,730.50 PLN, meaning that half of respondents earned 815 PLN less than the minimum wage (3,545 PLN).
The lowest average income was recorded among Generation Z artists, who earned 2,516 PLN on average, with a median of just 1,500 PLN.
In the artistic community, full-time employment is rare – only one in nine respondents holds a permanent job. About 37% work under specific-task contracts, 13.9% under commission contracts, and 19% are self-employed. As a result, a large proportion of artists lack any insurance coverage, leaving them without access to public healthcare, sick leave, or maternity benefits.
According to the data:
- 67.3% of artists have social insurance through their employment,
- 8.4% pay contributions voluntarily,
- 15.2% have private insurance,
- 10.4% have no insurance at all.
Financial vulnerability and lack of savings
The study also shows that 29% of artists could sustain themselves for up to three months using savings, 22.7% for one month, and 15.1% for six months. Meanwhile, 15.9% of respondents said they had no savings at all.
Among those without any savings:
- 33.3% were folk artists,
- 20.7% dancers,
- 18.4% visual artists.
What the bill proposes
The draft act addresses two key needs of professional artists:
- Access to current social and health insurance coverage, and
- The ability to accumulate enough contribution periods to qualify for a minimum pension in the future.
For artists with low incomes, the bill provides state subsidies for insurance contributions, handled by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). To qualify, an artist must:
- Have an official administrative decision confirming professional artist status,
- Earn no more than 125% of the minimum wage (on average over the past three tax years),
- Demonstrate income from artistic work in each of those years.
“Not all issues can be resolved by this act, given the constraints of the national budget,” says Anna Ceynowa. “The support will go to the most financially vulnerable artists, helping them bridge the gap between their actual earnings and what they should ideally make. The goal is to ensure at least a minimal level of social and health security.”
Broader perspective and next steps
The SWPS study also found that 43.5% of respondents have other sources of income beyond artistic work. Among them, 36.6% have non-artistic jobs, 17.9% receive financial help from family or friends, and 7.5% report passive income sources.
“If we fail to care for those most in need — the artists struggling to survive — it will be even harder for new generations of musicians and creators to commit their lives to such a demanding profession,” warns Ceynowa.
Public consultations on the draft act concluded in July 2025, with over 400 comments submitted for review. The next step is for the Permanent Committee of the Council of Ministers and the Council of Ministers to evaluate the draft. Once approved by the government, the bill will be submitted to Parliament for legislative work.
“We see this law as a starting point for building a comprehensive social protection system for artists,” emphasizes Ceynowa. “If adopted, it can evolve over time to reflect economic realities. What’s most important is political consensus and public understanding of the value that the music industry and artists bring to our cultural identity and economic potential.”
