The arts industry has received a financial boost in the Federal Budget, with Creative Australia’s core funding reaching a new high of $318 million, up 3.72 per cent.
Despite the increased funding, artists’ salaries still fail to reflect their value in society, according to statistics from Creative Australia, who claims artists spend their entire career engaging in ‘lifelong learning’ with more than 89 per cent of artists across various career stages currently engaged in some form of training.
In Australia, only 9 per cent of artists are able to work full-time on their creative practice without relying on a second income, the other 91 per cent are required to partake in additional arts and non-arts related work.
Artists’ average total income across all combined sources is about $54,500, 26 per cent below the workforce average.
Wollongong City Council Arts and Culture Coordinator, Shannon Kennedy said many local artists need additional income to make a living.
“We’re a firm believer [at the council] that if we value art in society and we understand its importance to the wellbeing of our community, then we should pay artists in line with that,” Mr Kennedy said.
“There’s been some very reputable studies talking about the importance of engaging with art and culture for mental health and well-being, and for community connectedness.
“It’s not always easy in the sector of public art but it’s incredibly important for artists in every opportunity to get paid for their work.”
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics growth in the arts industry is up by 3.7 percent over the past five years, the statistics demonstrating that artists are not quite yet disheartened by the lack of funding and bonuses in their field.
Those numbers are in stark contrast to the reality however, as 59 per cent of artists in a survey done by Creative Australia sought external funding through grants and scholarships in the 2022 financial year in order to finance their creative practice. Out of those, only 71 per cent of applicants were successful from at least one source.
These statistics highlight the core issues in the arts industry, despite the numbers saying there is steady growth and influence.
