A survey of over 300 independent artists has revealed key concerns but also offer a sense of possibility and prosperity for the future.
Inspirations, worries, habits and goals are shared in the latest report from Auspicious Art Incubator whose latest survey received over 300 submissions from independent artists.
Research found that independent artists are among the lowest paid, with a mean annual income of $18,000 and a median income of just $7,000 from their creative practice.
Compiling responses from artists working across painting, ceramics, digital, graphic design, printmaking, theatre, dance, circus, comedy, poetry, literature and more, the Auspicious Arts Incubator report represents a ‘voice of the independent sector.’
Seventeen per cent of respondents reported ‘trying to do this all alone’ as a major worry. Lack of income, support, and the devaluing or limited understanding of creative work outside the arts sector perpetuates the feeling of isolation for independent artists.
‘Not surprisingly money, time and business skills stand out as things that are worrying all of us,’ said John Paul Fischbach, CEO, Auspicious Arts Incubator. ‘The interesting thing is that money is only slight in front of “trying to do this all alone”. We are really “inter-dependent” artists as well as “independent” artists.’
Time was also a major concern, and learning how to value our time as creatives can present a challenge when the boundaries between passion, work and life are blurred.
As previously reported by ArtsHub, creating a ‘bank account’ for your time, learning to say no, and recognising time is a precious resource are some strategies to improve time management.
Common challenges and shared destructive habits also included procrastination, working for free, and making time for art-making.
‘Working outside of the art business means I don’t always make time for the art business,’ reported one respondent.
Forty per cent of artists reported having a part-time day job outside their practice, with 21% working a full-time job and 39% solely working on their practice.
Knowing how much to charge and fielding what feels like an onslaught of requests to work for free is a perpetual challenge for creatives. One respondent described wanting to commit to the habit of ‘charging for my time and not doing anything for “exposure”.’
Respondents also came back with possible solutions to making changes to their work habits such as ‘Devote specific time to my art making and don’t let other work get in the way,’ and ‘Say yes to work and artists/employers who are respectful of my work and time.’
Finding a mentor was also mentioned as one method of overcoming challenges and navigating a career as an independent artist.
Looking ahead to what is most needed to grow their business and practice in 2016, artists reported common areas requiring development as help with the bigger picture, running the business, marketing and resources.
Proactive solutions are reflective of the innate optimism, sense of possibility and courageousness found in the independent sector.
‘The vibe I picked up from this year’s responses is one of possibility. In 2015 we set and achieved goals. We felt creative, inspired and alive, while at the same time feeling doubt, dependency and recognising that we were a bit undisciplined,’ said Fischbach.
What may appear to be a precarious time for the independent artist is also one of opportunity, Fischbach believes.
‘This is our time. All of the structures have been disrupted. Independent musicians and writers have taken back the power from the labels, visual artists can reach their customers without galleries and performing artists are building audiences outside of the mainstream venues,’ he said.
‘We are living at an interesting time when we can choose to play “inside the system” and get recognition and validation from the established order and be entrepreneurial and set up our art as a business operating on our own terms with our own measures of success,’ concluded Fischbach.
Source: MADELEINE DORE