Today I listened to the labour of love and distressing reality of being an artist in Australia.
We are the most educated workers—most of us choosing to dedicate ourselves to art despite high alternative qualifications. 90% of us engaged in lifelong learning. Yet, we are expected to sacrifice the most (up to 75% of our income), receive little to no grassroot and crisis assistance; and, as a result, data has revealed Australia is losing us, its artists.
Only 1 in 10 artists can work full time on their craft without additional mixed work. Women earn 19% LESS than men when the average earnings for artists is already 26% below national average. But the true median earnings is no doubt FAR worse with 2 in 5 artists struggling to make Basic Living Costs.
Humans rely on the Arts to escape the day-to-day struggle. To help find meaning. Validation. It is one of the most profitable industries in the world. But...
We need to do better.
You can read the full report here: https://creative.gov.au/advocacy-and-research/artists-as-workers-an-economic-study-of-professional-artists-in-australia/
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