not a real job.

Trying to keep your head above water when your main income comes from your practice is something that was always going to be difficult. And when your partner also works in the same industry and both are in the same annoying period of the year where bills are coming in and the car needs an MOT and work doesn’t fully kick off for either of you for a few months, getting by is near impossible.
Why not temp? Yes why not? And I will have to, but I started to think about the amount of time I would loose from developing my work if I had a second job and it would at least half my productivity. I can barely keep on top of emails, funding applications and then of course the making now, It terrifies me that because of money my practice is going to suffer.

Most people reach a certain age (if they have no savings or do not come from a moneyed family) and realise that this is one of most poorly paid industries out there and out of necessity compromise their practice and do something more formulated that pays better.. Or pays full stop. For artists in my financial position there is a realisation that I may not ever be able to afford a home, children or even a pet, I have to make a choice... and it is a big risk. I worked almost continuously last year and still struggled. So how does it get any easier? maybe it doesn't, perhaps I just get used to it.

I believe passionately that art is valuable, crucial and present. It is not just someting necessary to my own survival, but vital in society whether as something political, expressive, beautiful or entertaining. But unfortunately it is not valued enough, not even by those who create it. We work in an industry that thrives off the "volunteer", the "training" and the "apprenticeship" and it is crippling. No wonder young people struggle to get into the industry when this acceptance and trend of unsubsidised work exists. Do enough work for free and you will get a paid position, unfortunately those who already get paid for their work are applying for those same jobs, so what hope have the volunteers got. A friend of mine, a talented artist, has worked in unpaid or barely paid positions in galleries and art publications for it must be three years now... none of them leading to jobs or recognition. He has recently set up his own publication and already has new commissions.

So perhaps this is the answer, to make your own opportunities... which I actually on the most part agree with. I do not expect anyone to hand me amazing opportunities, I work hard for what I want, but I need the time (an increasingly the space) to do it, and I do not come from rich parents who can support me in these years of my early career, and I know plenty others in the same position.

The system needs shaking up. What if all the yearly bonus's of the artistic directors of all the corporate theatres in the country went into one big pot and funded young artists in the early stages of their careers. Not providing them with a huge salary but a salary all the same, just enough so that perhaps they only work the one job for a little while and have the extra money to go to watch work and meet people and talk about art and the time to fully realise their ideas. Perhaps there would be more diversity in the arts or perhaps it would still be the same people applying for that pot, and equally as competitive, either way i'd like something to change.