Arts Northern Rivers

The recent report issued by the Australia Council on artists and their incomes has particular resonance to the community in the Northern Rivers. With a thriving arts community from Grafton to Tweed, the Northern Rivers encompasses a wide spectrum of lifestyles and levels of affordability. Striking the balance between making your art and making a living has for many never been more challenging.

The report "Do You Really Expect to Get Paid?" is the fifth in a series commissioned by the Australia Council and conducted independently by Professor David Throsby from Macquarie University. It was also partnered with another report "What's Your Other Job?" Both offer a comprehensive picture of the working lives of Australian artists. Click here to read the reports
http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/research/artists/reports_and_publications/artistcareers

The reports show how over the past 30 years the recognition and cultural significance of our artistic community has grown. However, the pay cheques have not. While artists are highly trained in their respective fields (between 3- 5 years training on average) their mean incomes are around 17k per year.

Arts Northern Rivers has contacted a number of regional artists and arts administrators to get their perspectives on their passion for creativity and their need for survival. In speaking to them, it became clear early on that branching out from their direct practice was going to be necessary to sustain their life choices.

Christine Willcocks, a visual artist and teacher at Southern Cross University and Northern Rivers TAFE undertook her initial study like many of her own students - "For the pure love of creating art". It wasn't long before she realised that she needed subsidy. Fortunately, she was 'not proud' and taking any work that would allow her to create was fine. Enrolling to teach at TAFE meant that she could stay in the mix without too much of a compromise with time.

Christine only teaches part-time and is more than aware that she can be faced with living on a knife-edge. "Full time work would zap me," she says.

"There is no security. But it is a great life up here even though it can be, at times, scary in terms of providing for yourself."

Julian Louis, the Artistic Director of NORPA, agrees. "I joined the industry 20 years ago knowing that it was not a safe career path financially. It is disappointing that despite significant growth and development of arts industry, the income is still so low."

Yet it does come with its advantages. Christine points out, she now believes she would be 'left behind' in many ways if it were not for her teaching role. It keeps her informed - especially in the realm of digital media and technology.

In reference to career paths, her dealings with her students are truthful, but they do not 'dwell' on the potential doom and gloom. She was told early on to expect at least 10 years to go by before getting any recognition. Students today are aware of the situation most artists find themselves in. But it is the love of the art that offsets the balance.

The report remarked on how relatively few artists actually apply for grants, prizes, felowships, etc.... Christine agrees that the processes you need to go through to qualify can be daunting and confusing. But that doesn't keep her from applying. She encourages her students to do this as much as possible. It has greatly assisted her career recognition.

She believes that once students leave the university/TAFE environment, there is little encouragement or stimulus to do this. And the difficulty in finding places to meet and commune only add to the lack of motivation around putting themselves forward.

This in itself raises an interesting point around the creative industries in general. As an artist leaves the academic environment, there is a point where the decision is made to accept the potential hardships of going it alone or subsidising by working for someone else and/or outside their direct practice. Arts Northern Rivers has recognised this and has launched the Creative Industries Brokers Project to assist and support artists in connecting with business partners to develop this economy. Potentially laying the groundwork to alleviate the need to look 'outside' their creative realm.

Another perspective Christine raises about the Northern Rivers region is that with our tourist population in a state of constant turnover, the area is actually a very good one for artists. This is a region that people come to to find art and originality. For some artists, this is a saving grace financially. But creatively, it can stagnate them as they can get stuck in the rut of creating works for the sake of sales and therefore not evolve as an artist.

Julian's closing remarks act as a sobering but optimistic reminder - "Its interesting to note that obvious trends are for regional artists to move to the cities for work and professional development. While the Northern Rivers continues to boast the creativity that exists in the region as a major defining cultural quality - arts organisations and artists need to be supported regionally for our industry to grow. Support through audience participation, through local council and its resources, philanthropy and sponsorship"

"I hope the next 20 years sees Australia valuing artists as it does other industries. If either of my two children were drawn to a career in the arts I would be very supportive but it would come with a warning that it's a tall mountain to climb in Australia and that along with quality training you need persistence and passion to get you through."