Karyn Fendley

Do you really expect to get paid? and What’s your other job? by Karyn Fendley

Posted on September 03, 2010

The Australia Council for the Arts has released two new pieces of research which together paint a comprehensive picture of the working lives of Australia’s 44,000 professional artists. The two projects – Do you really expect to get paid? by Professor David Throsby from Macquarie University and What’s your other job? by Professor Stuart Cunningham from the Queensland University of Technology – both show that artists continue to struggle financially, earning a median income of just $35,900 a year, including arts and non-arts related income. Both reports and the research project summary are available for download from the Australia Council website at http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/research/artists

  • Zefira

    Zefira

    thanks for sharing this – it would be interesting to see a comparison with our sportspeople

  • Karyn Fendley:

    interesting but upsetting i reckon!

  • donnamalone

    donnamalone

    I agree with Zefira… also be interesting to know the breakdown with gender. (I read that women in aust today need to work 66 days more than men for the same pay and the gap is getting wider)

  • Karyn Fendley:

    and then often women do most of the unpaid work at home on top of that…

  • scallyart

    scallyart

    I would love it if I could earn $35,900 per year instead of $5,000 to $10,000. I could live on that and give up my admin job.

  • IDGARA

    IDGARA

    I would like to see RedBubble artist work broadcast on “free to air” TV between Midnight and 6am (with accompanying music). Most chanels have nothing on but CR#@P at this time, are basically starved for decent content. A dedicated “ART” program where TV viewers can buy art by phone and a credic card will work. I have thought about this idea now for over a year.
    Hello,, Hello,,, is there anyone out there?? I seem to be cut off……….

  • Marion Chapman

    Marion Chapman

    i am going to read this now – sounds very interesting!

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