New Arts Council of Northern Ireland report shows artists are struggling to make a living in NI

Artists in Northern Ireland are earning on average just £11,200 per year from their work according to a stark new report examining the Living and Working Conditions of Artists in Northern Ireland.

The research, undertaken by Perspective Economics and commissioned by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, is the first study of its kind in over a decade and paints a troubling picture for artists (online survey conducted from the 27th of November 2023 to the 5th of January 2024).

The study, which examined 481 responses from a diverse range of artists across various demographics, career stages, and artistic disciplines, found loss of public investment for the arts, the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis to be among the challenges which have shaped the acts sector over the last 10 years.

Despite there being an estimated 14,500 artists in Northern Ireland¹, just 29% of those surveyed said they worked full time in the arts and derived 100% of their income from their artistic practice.

Over half (53%) surveyed indicated they have considered or would consider permanently relocating outside of Northern Ireland for better career prospects. This figure rose to 65.2% for those aged between 18 and 34, suggesting potential issues with retaining young artists due to a lack of career opportunities within Northern Ireland.

Karly Greene, Director of Strategic Developments and Partnerships commented:

“This report gives us new insight into the challenges facing artists here. Findings show that although our arts community is highly trained and educated, few work full-time and earning potential is severely limited. The report also noted high levels of anxiety among artists, when compared to the general population.

“The Arts Council recently launched a new Ten Year Strategy and within that we outlined our commitment to grow artistic talent and develop the wider workforce. Artists, the work they produce, the festivals they create, the music the compose, are at the very heart of life in Northern Ireland, enriching communities, driving tourism, boosting our nighttime economy. This is a sector from which we ask an awful lot but to which we give very little. Further investment in the arts would yield significant returns for Northern Ireland, giving them the capacity to grow and the ability to generate more income from other sources.”

Key findings from the report:

• Using the Annual Population Survey and the Arts Council’s own data, there are approximately 14,500 artists in Northern Ireland.
• The mean total income reported by those that made some of their income from arts activities was £19,200 in 2023. The mean income directly related to their arts activities is £11,200 (or 54% of their total income).
• 29% of those surveyed earned 100% of their income from their arts activities.
• 26% of respondents said between 1% and 19% of their income came from their arts practice.
• Comparing total income to the 2010 research survey baseline suggests that artists have faced a real-term reduction in overall income by 11% between 2010 and 2023. For the wider economy, mean wages increased by 1% in that same period.
  27% of artists with arts-related income have received at least one public grant in the past, and these artists earn approximately £2,600 more per annum from the arts compared to those who have not received a grant
• Artists who spend more than 40 hours per week on arts-related work have the highest average income from their arts activities (£16,600 or 84% of their total income). This represents around £8 per hour, approximately 30% lower than the National Living Wage (from April 2024).
• On average, artists in Northern Ireland possess three additional qualifications, certifications, or professional training beyond their primary education. This illustrates the depth of expertise and commitment to continuous learning within the artist community.
• Artists in Northern Ireland derive a significant portion (around 40%) of their arts-related income from sources outside of Northern Ireland.
• Most strikingly, the survey suggests that anxiety is more prevalent amongst artists than for the general population. On average, artists reported anxiety levels of 5.1, but for the whole of Northern Ireland this average was only 2.9.

¹ Using the Annual Population Survey and the Arts Council’s own data, it is estimated that there are approximately 14,500 artists in Northern Ireland.

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