A third of practising Australian Artists are living in poverty, with visual artists and females the most financially disadvantaged, validating Labor’s commitment to introduce a resale royalty scheme for visual artists.
A report released this week titled Don’t Give Up Your Day Job surveyed 1063 professionals revealing that 50% of artists earn less than $7,300 from their art a year.
Only a quarter of respondents worked principally at their artistic occupation, despite almost 80 percent wanting to spend more time at their arts work.
All artists need to be able to earn a living wage to sustain their creative contribution, but in reality they are forced to work multiple jobs just to get by.
This is why Labor is drafting a Private Member’s Bill to establish a resale royalty scheme which means that visual artists will receive a direct economic benefit from their work if it is resold for a higher value.
This was a key recommendation in the Report of the Contemporary Visual Arts and Craft inquiry (The Myer Report) which the Howard Government has still not implemented.
The contribution made by artists to our cultural and social fabric is clearly being undervalued by the Howard Government and that is why Labor’s priority is to implement a Resale Royalty Scheme.
Labor believes an Artists Resale Royalty Scheme will help, and translates to political recognition of the need to nurture and support both emerging and established artists.
Media Contact Adina Cirson 0418 488 295 or 02 6277 3334
