(KSK) supports artists to benefit from the German Social Security System. Social security for artists and writers (including journalists, editors, publicists) was introduced 1983, integrating selfemployed/freelance artists/writers into the statutory social insurance system. It involves compulsory statutory pension-, health- and

long-term nursing care insurance at financial conditions tailored to the individual’s income situation. Insured artists/writers pay only pay half oft he contributions (comparable to employees). The second part of the contribution, effectively the “employer’s contribution”, is financed via a levy paid by companies which utilise artistic and written works (referred to as the “artist social security contribution”) and via a Federal Government subsidy. Such a distribution of contributions payable means that artists and writers are in a better position compared to other selfemployed persons.