The theme of this year's Arts and Culture Barometer is the funding and support of artists' work. The results of the barometer show that there are several uncertainties related to the funding of artists' work. According to the respondents, artists' income generation is fragmented into several sources of income, and the funding of artists' work does not meet the real need. When changes and cuts are made simultaneously to several factors affecting funding and income levels, the effects on making art and artists' livelihoods are significant and unpredictable, according to the barometer results.
The Arts and Culture Barometer, produced in cooperation between the Arts Promotion Centre Finland and the Centre for Cultural Policy Research Cupore, annually monitors artists' views on topical phenomena. In the recently published barometer report, the topic is the funding and support of artists' work. In autumn 2024, a total of 1,253 artists and 81 peer reviewers from Taike and foundations supporting the arts responded to the barometer survey.
Grants enable self-sufficiency – however, appropriations and the number of applicants do not match
Based on the barometer responses, salaries and grants are the most significant types of income for artists in terms of euros. Of these, however, only the grant enables a significant amount of independent art, as it is awarded specifically for artistic work. Artists are often paid for work other than that of the artist.
The artists who responded to the barometer consider grants to be an essential opportunity to focus on artistic work and the development of their professional skills without external or commercial pressures. In addition, they believe that grants enable the diversity and free expression of art, which artists throughout Finland consider to be the most important task of the state grant system.
Peer reviewers from Taike and foundations also responded to the barometer survey. According to them, the biggest challenges when making funding decisions and peer review are related to the large number of applications in relation to the funding or appropriation applied for, which is why excellent applicants are also left without a grant.
Earning money from copyright royalties is difficult
Slightly more than half of the artists who responded to the survey had received copyright remunerations on an annual basis, but in terms of euros, their significance remains minor for a large number of artists. Almost half of the artists feel that they are the underdog when negotiating the use of their works, and half of the respondents have not always received appropriate compensation for the use of their works. The copyright effects of artificial intelligence are also a concern: more than a third of the respondents consider artificial intelligence to be a potential threat to the realisation of their copyrights. Writers are particularly worried.
The low level of copyright remunerations is seen as a sign that the work of artists is not appreciated.
Adequate funding for the arts is the lifeblood of the art field
The results of the barometer paint a picture of possible solutions. The funding of artists' work and the position of artists in the labour market is a complex entity, the development of which, according to the barometer responses, would require structural changes, such as increasing and diversifying funding and flexibility in combining different employment methods and unemployment and social security. A large number of the artists who responded to the survey would like to combine different ways of finding employment in the future as well.
Securing one's livelihood is the lifeblood of the art field. Almost half of the artists who responded to the barometer survey reported that they had changed professions or considered leaving the arts sector in the past 12 months. The share has risen by five percentage points from 2022.
In the barometer report, financial and livelihood issues are clearly the most frequently recurring reason for those who have changed professions or are considering it. In addition, the funding cuts targeted at the cultural sector are reflected in the results as increased uncertainty and a lack of prospects.
Previous barometers and time series
This year's Arts and Culture Barometer is already the tenth of its kind. In addition to the changing themes, the Arts and Culture Barometers have also included regularly recurring questions through which it is possible to examine the development of the field.
In addition to the report, Cupore's website publishes information content on the barometer results of different years. The results can be examined by field of art, for example.
You can find the Arts and Culture Barometers of previous years on the Taike website.
Welcome to the discussion event 8.5.
The results of the Arts and Culture Barometer will be discussed at an event held on 8 May at Kino Konepaja in Helsinki. The programme includes a presentation of the results, a commentary and an artist discussion. The event can also be followed online.
Check out the programme of the discussion event and sign up.