New Survey shows Visual Artists Incomes collapse!

national | arts and media | press release Sunday September 18, 2011 17:55 by Noel Kelly - Visual Artists Ireland info at visualartists dot ie Central Hotel Chambers, 7/9 Dame Court, Dublin 2 +353 (0)1 672 9488

Preliminary findings on new report published today show professional visual artists continue to live in poverty.

Visual Artists Ireland, the All-Ireland representative body for professional visual artists, today announced preliminary findings of their recent survey The Social, Economic & Fiscal Status of the Visual Artist in Ireland 2011. Based on the survey undertaken in December 2008, the 2011 survey has found that the income of professional visual artists in Ireland has collapsed. Of the 292 artists surveyed, 82.25% earn less than €10,000 from their creative practice. This is a sharp decrease when compared to 67% in 2008. The number of artists relying on finding alternative sources of income has increased, but the overall income figures remain low. 55% of professional visual artists earn less than €10,000 from their total income (creative and non-creative). This is a sharp decrease from 33% in the 2008 survey.

Visual Artists Ireland, the All-Ireland representative body for professional visual artists, today announced preliminary findings of their recent survey The Social, Economic & Fiscal Status of the Visual Artist in Ireland 2011. Based on the survey undertaken in December 2008, the 2011 survey has found that the income of professional visual artists in Ireland has collapsed. Of the 292 artists surveyed, 82.25% earn less than €10,000 from their creative practice. This is a sharp decrease when compared to 67% in 2008. The number of artists relying on finding alternative sources of income has increased, but the overall income figures remain low. 55% of professional visual artists earn less than €10,000 from their total income (creative and non-creative). This is a sharp decrease from 33% in the 2008 survey.

The report shows that over 42% of artists’ households have been in arrears in the past 12 months. This is an increase from 24% in 2008. The report also shows that over 79% of visual artists will rely on state pensions in the future. Artists continue to have issues with Social Welfare, and call on the Department of Social Protection and the Revenue Commissioners to recognise the issues that take place on a daily basis across the country.

The report, to be published later this year, indicates that the expectation for professional visual artists to work and exhibit for free has increased as venues and the art market continue to suffer from a reduction in available funding. Visual Artists Ireland continues to call on government to create a cultural partnership forum in the lead up to the forthcoming budget to address the inequalities that are now commonplace in the arts in Ireland.