What does ‘artistic labour’ mean to you?

Artists as Workers is a study of artists as workers. The book generally discusses the complexities of artists as workers and the challenges and opportunities they face. Since this week’s question is about what artistic labour means to me, I have taken a few excerpts from the book where the author talks about artistic labour.

masters were identified as ‘individuals’, uniquely gifted in their own right, in stark contrast to the well-established system of guilds, where membership only followed a period of apprenticeship and learning. The idea of an individual artist-genius implies a special individual, possessing innate talent. The vast, and often collective, labour spent training and honing skills is thereby overlooked. As such, we can see how the concept of artistic ‘genius’ is closely tied to a forgetting of artistic labour: creativity is thus perceived as a product of talent more than work.

Artists are a special kind of worker, and their work is different from labour in the traditional sense. But it is undeniable that artists’ work also requires a significant investment of time and energy, and sometimes at a financial cost. And artists are no different from other knowledge workers in that they must undergo a series of professional studies to acquire systematic knowledge and skills.

During the Covid lockdowns, many people stuck at home took up arts and crafts, with activities such as drawing, embroidery knitting and pottery peaking on social media. Capitalising on this new found enthusiasm for art at home, Channel 4 hastily commissioned Grayson’s Art Club (first broadcast 27th April 2020), a semieducational series in which the popular artist and his wife shared and celebrated the works of ‘amateur’ artists from all over the country “making new works and hosting masterclasses set to unleash our collective creativity during lockdown.” As such, the Covid crisis has seen people from all parts of society re-evaluate their lives, leading to a greater recognition of the positive role that art and culture might take in a future focused on wellbeing, living a fulfilled life and to our changing national identity.

Despite the important role artists play in contemporary society, they remain in a more vulnerable and precarious position on a professional and economic level. At the same time, artists face pressures and constraints from social, political and cultural sources.

Despite the obvious disadvantages it presents, many artists continue to offer their labour unpaid. In doing so, often under significant pressure, they end up perpetuating a cycle of inequality: devaluing their own labour and making it harder for others who subsequently find themselves in similar positions to demand fair pay.

Artists’ work is not only about creating works of art but also about contributing to social and cultural life. The art market is at the heart of the contemporary art industry and plays a crucial role in the career of artists and the recognition of their work. However, the rules and power structures of the market often benefit some artists and exclude others. Society should pay more attention to the work and lives of artists and provide them with better working conditions and security.

Overall, the book discusses the status and conditions of artists as workers in modern society, emphasising the importance and complexity of artistic labour.

So, What does ‘artistic labour’ mean to me?

Artistic labour represents a form of human creativity, the labour that goes into creating beauty and expressing emotion. Through tireless effort and practice, artists can transform their creativity into true artworks that bring beauty and intellectual enlightenment to the viewer. At the same time, artistic labour needs to be respected and recognised just like any other profession. In fact, until now, my working experience has been pleasant, with mutual respect and recognition from my collaborators and even my bosses.