Study on the social and creative condition of the artists

Research aims:

1. To analyze the current socio-economic and creative situation of creators.
2. To evaluate social security mechanisms, tax concessions, financial and other
state interventions applied by the state to improve the condition of artists.
3. To formulate the principles of long-term, systematic monitoring of the condition
of artists, collection and analysis of data about them.

Objectives of the study:

  1. To define the concept of artist that will be used in the study.
  2. To analyze how the socio-economic and creative state of creators is affected by state interventions.
  3. To compare state interventions in Lithuania and foreign countries.
  4. To carry out a representative survey of the country’s artists taking into account the distribution of the country’s artists (according to the data of statistical databases) and analyse the socio-economic situation of creators based on survey results and other sources.
  5. To determine the impact of state interventions on the condition of the country’s artists and their effectiveness.
  6. To compile a complex indicator of the condition of artists for long-term observation, to present its forecasts in 2023 and 2026.

Key findings and recommendations:

  1. A survey of the country’s artists revealed that artists lack state and public recognition and a positive attitude towards the profession of a creator, although this is especially important for artists. Making culture a priority area of public administration would have a corresponding impact on state interventions and the social and creative state of artists, which is closely linked to the cultural education of society and the cultural consumption needs it imposes.
  2. It is proposed to implement more non-financial support measures, such as free primary legal aid to artists (such a measure is applied by the Estonian Artists’ Association), aid for retraining to another profession after an early career end (especially true in the dance field) help for novice musicians purchasing or leasing instruments (these measures are applied by NGO organizations in England).
  3. It is recommended to transform art incubators into laboratories for the development of new products and services, to expand the cooperation of artists with representatives of science and technology, to seek funding from institutions promoting innovation, to look for new business models and forms, to involve the artist in the development of new products and services.

Authors: the National Association of Cultural and Creative Industries and the Institute of Future Society, commissioned by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

Year: 2021

Study summary (PDF): Study on the social and creative condition of the artists (EN)

Original post: Menininkų socialinės ir kūrybinės būklės vertinimas (LT)