Do you want there to be art in the world?

Art: “The expression or application of creative skill and imagination […] producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” Oxford English Dictionary

Creative people enrich our lives in so many ways, through their writing, music, paintings, sculptures, crafts, performance, fashion and films. Could you imagine life without them? Government funding notwithstanding, their value to society and the cultural richness they bring are beyond economic measure. We need this stuff to feel complete – it feeds our hearts, our imaginations and, if we have them, our souls. My last blog Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder alluded to the subjectivity of our judgement, but even challenging artworks that may not appeal to us can stimulate a reaction and make us feel more alive.

It would be easy to believe that those who try to live as creative professionals are doing all right. Hollywood actors, best-selling authors like Stephen King and JK Rowling, artists such as Anish Kapoor and Damien Hirst – they all make a killing don’t they?

According to the Livelihoods of Visual Artists data report, UK artists earn an average of £16,150 each year, of which £6,020 (36%) comes from their art practice. The vast majority (two-thirds) earn less than £5k from their art, with only 7% earning more than £20k.

The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) 2022 report says: “In a year that publishers have boasted record profits, the figure of median earnings from self-employed writing of £7,000 for primary occupation writers does not even come close to a living wage” and “The profession of writing is characterised by winner-takes-all-dynamics and extremely high levels of earnings inequality.” This is true in most fields of creative endeavour.

The power to change this situation lies not only with the gatekeepers and controllers of the marketing and outlets but also in the hands of the public. However, whilst writers and artists are praised for their creations, and street performers applauded, they are often simultaneously viewed with derision, suspicion, envy, and other sentiments of the GET-A-JOB variety. Self-promotion is seen as blowing your own trumpet, shameless, or even begging in our repressed wage-slave society with its deeply ingrained capitalist/protestant work ethic. Whereas, if we give money to a gallery or shop worker, a ticket seller, or a bookshop – i.e. a legitimising agent – we feel this is acceptable, although the person who created the work gets a tiny percentage of your payment. We are happy to buy books marketed as Sunday Times or New York Times bestsellers (isn’t that most books now?). Advertisements are basically companies asking for your money.

So why do we (as a society) get uncomfortable when less famous creative people ask us to buy their work or support their careers? Because they put us in the uncomfortable position of having to say no? Don’t worry, they are expecting a “no” and will not judge you. The lucky few, out of many thousands, might just appeal to a particular agent who can then persuade a major publisher/gallery/theatre/studio that they will make a few bucks out of this one. Regardless of the quality of their work, the rest have neither the budget, the staff nor the expertise to get much media coverage or access to popular outlets. They have little choice but to ask friends, family, followers and their mums to buy their stuff. Or GET A JOB.

Creative people are generally uncomfortable with the business side of things and selling their work directly to the public takes courage; though for many, it is a financial necessity. But what about the times in between marketable products (I shiver at such terms!)? An artist needs staring-at-the-wall time, swimming in the creative pool of their subconscious for inspiration, a writer spends years working on a novel, and of course they have the day-to-day costs of food and bills. If they all had to go out and GET A JOB, apart from the fact there aren’t enough jobs to go around, there would be fewer beautiful or thought-provoking things to look at, fewer books to choose from, less music, not so many enriching phenomena to experience; basically an impoverished cultural society. This may be difficult to believe now that we are inundated with stimuli every waking moment and seemingly limitless choice – but bear in mind most mass mainstream products for us to consume are basically shite (and increasingly AI designed/generated). Sadly, this leads a lot of people to devalue art and literature – there is so much that is both free and freely available.

Furthermore, creative people are often compelled with the need to make their art. Spending their lives fulfilling this longing isn’t just self-indulgence, it is essential for their sanity and peace of mind. This is why, often as a last resort, many are now starting crowdfunding or Patreon accounts, where subscribers receive various benefits for their (usually small) membership fees. It’s rather like a magazine subscription which, in addition to social media, can help build a relationship with their audience. This relationship can feed their motivation and rescue their fragile egos from the edge of the abyss: “Someone likes my stuff!” Alternatively, for people unwilling or unable to commit to a monthly payment, there are sites like buymeacoffee.com where small one-off donations can help a struggling creative person tick over. Even in this case, a contributor gets something for their money. Studies show that when you give, you get serotonin, dopamine, endorphin and oxytocin hits from your brain, creating what is known as the “helper’s high”. This can lead to greater self-esteem, less depression, reduced stress and lower blood pressure. And you get a feeling of self-satisfaction from knowing you are helping not just the artist, but enriching the whole of society.

Of course there are many more worthy causes in the world and there always will be, but when you next feel inclined to support a creative soul striving to earn a crust, don’t forget the little people! And please don’t tell them to GET A JOB.

Please note: this post was written after reading The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer.

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