Is Being an Artist the New Trust Fund Hobby?
Welcome to the gallery of hard truths, sweet cheeks. At Lokipawz, we know a thing or two about creative chaos—mostly because we live in it (and also because glitter is permanent). But lately, we've noticed a trend: art school dreams are being bubble-wrapped and shipped straight to the land of "only if your parents pay your rent."
So let’s spill the non-toxic paint water:
Are artists disappearing? Is making art now just a luxury item like oat milk lattes and apartments with natural light? And most importantly—can creativity survive when rent’s $3K and exposure doesn’t pay the bills?
Spoiler alert: the numbers aren’t cute. But the sass is free, and the truth? It's covered in Mod Podge and ready for its close-up.
Are Artists Disappearing?
Global & National Trends
Declining share of workforce: In Australia, the number of professional artists fell slightly from 48,000 (2016) to 47,100 (2023), but crucially, artists now represent a smaller proportion of the overall workforce—a decline since 2000. (ABC)
UK “talent drain”: Median annual income for visual artists in Britain shrank 40% from 2010 to 2024, hitting just £12,500. Eighty percent described earnings as unstable, with many supplementing via teaching—earning ~£17,500 versus the national average of £37,000. (The Guardian)
US earnings decline: From 2006 to 2021, after controlling for demographics, artists went from near parity with other professions to earning 15–30% less. (Springer)
While the absolute number of artists hasn’t collapsed, their presence relative to the workforce is shrinking. Income erosion, unstable earnings, and the need to juggle other jobs are pushing some artists out or forcing them to limit their practice.
Is Art Becoming a Privilege of the Wealthy?
Wealth as a Gateway
A 2019 study found families earning $1 million annually are 10× more likely to have children enter creative professions compared to those earning $100k; every additional $10k increased the likelihood by 2%. (Smithsonian Magazine)
Wealth disparities also play out in the opportunity to pursue arts education and training. Without early access to extracurriculars or equipment, many talented individuals from lower-income backgrounds are deterred. (Pepperdine University Graphic)
Safety Nets & Privilege
In the US, one survey revealed that artists often depend heavily on household income and family support—especially white and higher-income individuals—showing the importance of safety nets. (Snap Arts)
Nearly half of Australian professional artists earned less than $10,000 from their practice; average total income was ~$54,500 (26% below national mean), with only 10% working full-time in art. (ABC)
Art vs. Affluence
Economic and institutional barriers, like low public funding and costly living in art hubs, have tightened since the 2008 “late-stage capitalism” era, entrenched by gig culture and shrinking safety nets. (Mallory Shotwell)
While online platforms (e.g., Artsy, Saatchi Art) and transparency projects are working to lower entry barriers, their scale is limited compared to the entrenched influence of private wealth and elite networks. (Cambridge University Press)
🔍 The Bigger Picture: Systemic Barriers
| Barrier | Description |
|---|---|
| Economic Precarity | Most artists' earnings are low: only 12% earn enough to support themselves (Art Spoon); in Australia, half made less than $10,000 from art . |
| Class Ceiling | Those from working-class backgrounds take ~19% longer to advance in cultural roles than wealthier peers . |
| Copyright, AI & Market Pressures | Generative AI, copyright erosion, and investor-driven art speculation are squeezing classical artists’ incomes . |
| One-Sided Market | A minority of blue-chip artists take most revenue; the rest face oversupply and weak wage bargaining . |
Is There Hope?
Basic-income pilots: Programs like Minnesota’s guaranteed $500/month for artists show early promise. One participant used funds to build a sustainable hip‑hop career. (Business Insider)
Access platforms: Digital marketplaces and data transparency are enabling broader reach—but need scaling and cultural shift. (Satellites of Art)
Policy & institutional change: Calls for class diversity audits, fair pay initiatives (e.g., W.A.G.E certification), and stable public investment are gaining momentum. (The Guardian)
Who Gets to Be an Artist?
In short:
Artists aren't vanishing, but the role is becoming increasingly precarious, with incomes squeezed and work unstable.
Entry and success in art are strongly tied to wealth, education, and social capital.
Without policy reform, equitable funding, and labor protections, the privilege of making art risks being limited to those already advantaged.
What Needs to Change
Expand stable income: Scale up guaranteed income for artists like the Springboard model.
Invest in public arts funding: Support living wages, grants, housing assistance and copyright rights.
Dismantle class barriers: Promote access programs, scholarships, and early training in underserved communities.
Enforce equitable compensation: Push museums and galleries to adopt fair-pay standards like W.A.G.E.
Regulate AI & copyright: Ensure artists retain control and revenue from their creations used in AI systems.
Artists still create, but the field is becoming an ever narrower corridor—clogged by economic pressure and privileged access. The question isn’t so much if artists are disappearing, but who gets to survive as one. As a society, maintaining diverse, creative voices in public life depends on turning the privilege of art into a shared right.
