I don’t usually do this, but I saw this on my facebook page today, and just can’t stand by and let this happen.
»This is from the fb page of the new museum opening in Florida. «
This is absolutely egregious. Artists, especially scientific illustrators are some of the most skilled people out there. It’s a craft that takes a lifetime of study and draftsmanship to master. Scientific Illustrators offer an invaluable service to all fields of science.
Sure, it’s just a coloring book….of anatomical illustrations. They cant be that hard to make…. what of it?
The exploitation of artists in science is HUGE problem.
In the past 15 years, underpayment and non-payment for commercial work has single-handedly destroyed the paleo-art as a field. The artists responsible for the iconic dinosaur illustrations of your childhood now struggle to make ends meet. Many of them cant even make it to conferences anymore because they don’t have the funds.
Museums, as an institution have increasingly come to expect more and more of artists for less and less.
Now it’s come to this…. For the first time, a museum, an institution for educating the public, PUBLICLY expects artists to work for free on products they will be selling for profit.
This is absolutely shameful. What does this say to the public?DO NOT LET THEM SET A PRECEDENT OF EXPLOITING ARTISTS IN SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATION.
Please visit their facebook page.
Signalboost, and let them know that Artists Deserve to be Paid for their Work