Artists and the Economic Recession Survey
The Artists and the Economic Recession
Survey: Selected Findings
Study commissioned by Leveraging Investments in Creativity,
in collaboration with Helicon Collaborative and
Princeton Survey Research Associates International
Read this 8 page report here.
Some of the findings...
Two-thirds of artists hold at least one job in
addition to making art.
Artists’ incomes are relatively low (two-thirds
made less than $40,000 in 2008), and half
(51%) reported a decrease in their art-related
income from 2008 to 2009.
Forty percent of artists do not have adequate
health insurance and more than 50% are
worried about losing what they do have.
Despite the challenges, artists are optimistic
about the future—89% think artists have a
special role in helping strengthen communities
in these times, and 75% believe this is an
inspiring time to be an artist.
Some opportunities have emerged as a result
of the recession—40% report they have been
able to spend more time on their art work,
and one-third have seized the opportunity to
experiment and collaborate more.
Most artists have relatively low incomes, even
though the majority (62%) are college graduates
and hold at least one additional paying job. Twothirds
reported their total 2008 income was less
than $40,000, including nearly one-third who
earned less than $20,000. Artists tend to earn
very little of their income from their art work or
almost all of it. Unexpectedly, artists who spend
more than 80% of their time on their art work
have the highest income levels, while artists who
rely on cobbling together an income from a mix
of sources are most likely to earn under $20,000
a year. Years as an artist and time spent working
on art each week also positively influence the
percentage of income earned from art.
Survey: Selected Findings
Study commissioned by Leveraging Investments in Creativity,
in collaboration with Helicon Collaborative and
Princeton Survey Research Associates International
Read this 8 page report here.
Some of the findings...
Two-thirds of artists hold at least one job in
addition to making art.
Artists’ incomes are relatively low (two-thirds
made less than $40,000 in 2008), and half
(51%) reported a decrease in their art-related
income from 2008 to 2009.
Forty percent of artists do not have adequate
health insurance and more than 50% are
worried about losing what they do have.
Despite the challenges, artists are optimistic
about the future—89% think artists have a
special role in helping strengthen communities
in these times, and 75% believe this is an
inspiring time to be an artist.
Some opportunities have emerged as a result
of the recession—40% report they have been
able to spend more time on their art work,
and one-third have seized the opportunity to
experiment and collaborate more.
Most artists have relatively low incomes, even
though the majority (62%) are college graduates
and hold at least one additional paying job. Twothirds
reported their total 2008 income was less
than $40,000, including nearly one-third who
earned less than $20,000. Artists tend to earn
very little of their income from their art work or
almost all of it. Unexpectedly, artists who spend
more than 80% of their time on their art work
have the highest income levels, while artists who
rely on cobbling together an income from a mix
of sources are most likely to earn under $20,000
a year. Years as an artist and time spent working
on art each week also positively influence the
percentage of income earned from art.
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