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Inspirations, worries, habits and goals are shared in the latest report from Auspicious Art Incubator whose latest survey received over 300 submissions from independent Australian artists.
With fears that Federal Government changes to the Australia Council funding would hit independent artists the hardest, it’s no surprise that money was reported as the biggest worry among respondents.
Research by Australia Council found that independent artists are among the lowest paid professionals in Australia, 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.’
