Opinion ID: 686722
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Artistic Professional Exemption

Text: 43 The artistic exemption applies to professionals working in a recognized field of artistic endeavor. 29 C.F.R. Sec. 541.3. Exempt artistic professionals may be found in many fields, including music, writing, the theater, and the plastic and graphic arts. 44 The regulation outlines both a short and long test for determining whether an employee qualifies as an artistic professional. The long test is applied to employees who earn weekly salaries of at least $170 but less than $250. The short test is used for employees whose weekly salary is not less than $250. 4 Both tests demand that the employee's primary duty consist of work requiring invention, imagination, or talent.... 29 C.F.R. Sec. 541.3. The long test also requires that the employee's primary duty consist of [w]ork that is original and creative in character.... 29 C.F.R. Sec. 541.3(a)(2). 45 The interpretations state that [o]nly writing which is analytical, interpretive or highly individualized is considered to be creative in nature.... Newspaper writers commonly performing work which is original and creative within the meaning of Sec. 541.3 are editorial writers, columnists, critics, and 'top-flight' writers of analytical and interpretive articles. 29 C.F.R. Sec. 541.303(f)(1). With regard to the invention, imagination, or talent requirement, the Secretary's interpretation says: 46 In the case of newspaper employees, the distinction here is similar to the distinction observed ... in connection with the requirement that the work be original and creative in character. Obviously the majority of reporters do work which depends primarily on intelligence, diligence, and accuracy. It is the minority whose work depends primarily on invention, imagination, or talent. 29 C.F.R. Sec. 541.303(d). 47