Artists and the New Economy
Tuesday, October 18, 10:00am – 11:30am
Organized by Angie Kim, President and CEO, Center for Cultural Innovation.
Moderated by Alexis Frasz, Researcher, Helicon Collaborative; and Holly Sidford, President, Helicon Collaborative. Presented by Angie Kim, President and CEO, Center for Cultural Innovation; Judilee Reed, Director, Thriving Cultures Program, Surdna Foundation; and Jason Schupbach, Director of Design Programs, Visual Arts Division Team Leader, National Endowment for the Arts.
A new study on major trends affecting artists has been completed by the Center for Cultural Innovation and National Endowment for the Arts, with support from Surdna Foundation and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The number of artists has increased, definitions of who is an artist have shifted, practices have hybridized, increasing numbers of artists are self-employed, and technology has disrupted the creation, production, distribution, and consumption of artists’ work as well as the role of intermediaries. The study argues for new approaches to address challenges facing artists including unstable income, crippling student debt, and training systems, and to respond to emerging opportunities for artists. This session will present findings from the research. Participants will engage with several scenarios for potential action, playing out the implications suggested by each.