New CIRG Legal Guide: What Self-Employed Performing Artists Should Know About Pension Insurance
29. 8. 2026 work in culture
When is a performing artist considered self-employed? What is the difference between main and secondary self-employment, and when does participation in pension insurance become mandatory? A new CIRG legal guide helps performing artists navigate the rules of social security.
The first part of the guide, The Legal Status of Performing Artists as Self-Employed Persons (Entrepreneurs) within the Pension Insurance System, written by Martin Škurek, provides a clear overview of the legal position of performing artists who work on a self-employed basis. It explains the conditions for participation in pension insurance, the distinction between main and secondary self-employment, the commencement and termination of insurance coverage, periods of insurance, and the rules governing pension insurance contributions. The individual rules are complemented by practical examples.
The guide was produced as part of the project Comprehensive Research and Support for the Development of Cultural and Creative Industries in the Olomouc Agglomeration and is freely available on the CIRG website.
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CIRG – the Cultural Industries Research Group focuses on research into cultural and media industries, particularly on current issues, challenges, and conflicts arising from tensions between intellectual property law, the business models of cultural industries, the digitalization and platformization of cultural sectors, and changing consumer habits. The group’s name is an acronym of its English title, Cultural Industries Research Group. CIRG is an informal association of experts from media studies, intellectual property law, media law, media ethics, cultural economics and cultural management, sociology of culture, and data analysis. The group operates on the basis of project-based funding through applied research projects (TAČR, NAKI, EEA and Norway Grants, OP JAK Intersectoral Cooperation), basic research projects (GAČR, ZIF Bielefeld, OP VVV Excellent Research, DFG), as well as contract research (State Cinematography Fund, Association of Audiovisual Producers).
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Screen Industries in Central and Eastern Europe Research Group
SIRG
Charles University
Department of Film Studies
Lab head: Petr Szczepanik
sirg@ff.cuni.cz
PhD
We offer the opportunity to pursue doctoral study focused on developing and carrying out your own research projects in the field of cultural and media industries. The programme can be undertaken at Palacký University Olomouc, Charles University, or the Prague University of Economics and Business under the supervision of leading experts in media studies, cultural economics, digital ethics, and copyright law.
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