Artists and Rewards

If an artist strives for excellence in their work, economic rewards proportionate to the value that work delivers should be attached. Artists having stable finances means they can then safely create other forms of value that may not pay well like: helping good causes, spreading joy and making their neighbourhood a nicer place to live.

Sometimes markets exploit artist’s work and offer low fees. While value can be hard to quantify, clients can make an effort to determine the effects and reward artists accordingly. If clients are unwilling to do so, artists need to have self control, negotiate or find better clients. The assumption that subsistence living should be a requirement to do good work actually creates a context for market imbalances which undermine the stability of artists. It’s a powerful myth to many but it’s ultimately counterproductive.

Artists are capable of creating great work even in dire conditions. But living in a constant state of self imposed emergency is not a healthy long term way of being. Taking responsibility for all aspects of our careers, learning to be better that the harder parts and conducting everything with the highest degree of integrity and creativity you can I’ve found helpful. May artists everywhere live in a way that’s conducive to long, happy and productive lives.