Australia’s visual and craft arts workers face deteriorating conditions, a newly released study led by RMIT and the University of Melbourne has found.  

The four-year study conducted alongside several peak arts bodies revealed that declining conditions in the industry will lead to more workers exiting the sector. The findings highlighted high rates of voluntary unpaid work and secondary jobs, a trend that has likened the industry to the gig economy.

Low wages, inconsistent work and a lack of government support rank among the key reasons workers choose to leave. 

RMIT University lead author and Professor Grace McQuilten said a significant number had left the visual arts sector in the past five years, adding: “Much like workers in the gig economy, artists and arts workers often don’t know which awards and agreements they’re covered by, if any.”

Gendered and cultural issues in the arts

Female, non-binary and linguistically diverse workers were found to be most impacted within the sector. In 2024, the gender pay gap for visual and craft artists was reported at 47 percent. 

The study found the average income from visual art or craft practice in 2023-24 was $13,937.  Men artists reported an average income of $23,130, women artists $12,330 and non-binary artists $14,074. This pay gap is particularly detrimental given women make up 74 percent of the workforce, according to the report. 

McQuilten said the arts were a voice of our diverse community and vibrant democracy, but we risked losing that if artists cannot continue their careers. 

RMIT and the University of Melbourne respond with 11 recommendations

The report outlines 11 proposed recommendations to overcome these challenges and stimulate the arts economy. 

It recommends expanding and improving the existing award coverage for arts workers, which sets out minimum wages and conditions.

It also suggests mandating the application of the National Association of the Visual Arts’ Code of Practice for Visual Arts, Craft and Design in all funding contracts to make them better protect artists’ pay and conditions.

Already endorsed by the federal government through the National Cultural Policy, Revive, the report advocates for this to be taken further by embedding the Code as a requirement across all publicly funded arts programs.

McQuilten emphasised the need for change. “There must be greater, more transparent recognition of the amount of unpaid labour in the arts and a commitment to moving away from this model,” she said.

Read the full report here. 

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