THE TORONTO STAR: SEVEN WAYS TO SUPPORT ARTISTS

“In Ireland, artists pay no income tax on earnings below 250,000 euros.

In Scandinavian countries, artists deemed to have made significant contributions over the course of a lifetime receive special recognition—and income support—from the government.

In Australia, legislation allows artists to average income over a five-year span, protecting them from the highs and lows of chosen careers that promise personal fulfillment at the cost of long-term security.

In Canada, we have a lot to learn about how to nurture the people who help us define ourselves, say artists and experts who have studied their economic well-being. “Special status for artists is very controversial in Canada; it’s just part of the landscape that we deal with here,” says Kelly Hill of Hill Strategies Research, a company that specializes in analysis of the country’s arts and culture sector.”