<
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/19/nx-s1-5611445/2025-norc-artist-labor-survey>
“"We all know the trope of the starving artist," said researcher Gwendolyn
Rugg, "But there's actually surprisingly little reliable data out there to back
this up."
Rugg, a senior research scientist for NORC at The University of Chicago, a
nonpartisan research organization, is the lead author of a new report on
artists' lives and their livelihoods. Researchers surveyed more than 2,600
artists nationwide from across disciplines and working arrangements. They were
asked a range of questions on everything from housing, the hours they work and
health benefits to how they make money. The study was funded by the Mellon
Foundation.
Among the key findings:
* 57% of artists reported being "somewhat or very worried" about being able to
afford "food, housing, medical care, or utilities";
* 37% received income from public assistance sources, including Social Security
and state or local welfare;
* 34% of artists are self-employed, 11% "juggled three or more jobs";
* 28% "provide unpaid assistance to a family member or friend due to a health
condition or disability."
The NORC study released Wednesday isn't the first to confirm that most artists
aren't in it for the money and that the systems that support them in the United
States are fragile. Museums are struggling this year. Government and foundation
grants can be precarious. During the pandemic, concert venues and theaters were
among the first to close and the last to reopen.
But Rugg said this is the first study to "paint a more comprehensive and
nuanced portrait of working artists today."
"And not having that data," said Gonzalo Casals, "you're invisible." Casals
commissioned the survey when he was a senior policy fellow for arts and culture
at the Mellon Foundation. Today, he is co-director of the Culture and Arts
Policy Institute, which provides policy guidance for those in New York's arts
sector.”
Via Joyce Donahue.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
