Kathie Stove continues her series on
the real price of art. Apart from selling their work through a gallery or exhibition, how does an artist bring in enough money, through art, to feed and clothe themselves and the family?
The two most obvious examples are art shows that carry prize money, and grants.
Prizes
Art shows can seem to be lucrative. The Fleurieu Art Prize, just across the water, has a prize pool of $90,000, Victor Harbor Art Show $36,850, and The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize $114,500.
But what are the chances? Even at our own Easter Art Exhibition, the prize pool of just over $4000 attracts up towards 250 entries. Last year, the Fleurieu received more than 1000 applications, 55 per cent from interstate, 43 per cent from South Australia and 2 per cent from overseas.
The entries are usually subject to limitations on size and when they were made; and the works can’t have been exhibited before.
Each entry has to be accompanied by an entry fee ($45 at Fleurieu, $10 for members at Penneshaw) that is non-refundable even if you don’t make it into the exhibition. The artist pays the cost of transporting the artwork, including insurance, to the art show. From Kangaroo Island, that cost can be significant. And then, if the work doesn’t sell, you pay to get it back.
Works that are sold through the art show attract a fee of 35 per cent at Fleurieu 37.5 per cent at Victor, 25 per cent at Penneshaw.
Artistic director of the Easter Art Exhibition, Peter Walker, said the prize money, along with the theme and categories, have to be announced when entries are first opened well before the exhibition.
“At that time we have no sponsorship,” he said, “so we have to be able to cover the prize money if necessary.
“We try to find sponsors who can give money. Local businesses are very generous but generally can afford only products. They are also generous with materials, such as Greg Reynolds who helps paint the screens each year.
“Baudin Beach Progress Association has been a great support to us with money and last year we converted many products into cash through the silent auction.
“The entry fees, commissions on sales and visitor entry to the hall are spent on materials, advertising, opening night, and the many incidental costs. For us it is about finding the money to support artists and put their work in in public.”
Some art prizes, such as the Outback Prize, are acquisitive – the prize sponsor keeps the winning work. Non-acquisitive prizes can mean that the winner gets a double whammy – prize and sale, and a winning artwork is more likely to sell.
Grants
If the odds of winning prizes put you off, then how about a grant? The odds are better but competition is still fierce, and the application process is time and energy consuming.
Country Arts SA supports regional art, and looks for artistic merit and innovation in the proposals it receives for its Skills Development, Community Project and Regional Arts Partnerships grants.
The Opportunities for Regional Artists Program funds professional development and artist-led initiatives that demonstrate cultural and community benefit to regional SA.
Independent makers and presenters can seek Arts SA funding for skills and career development and production, exhibition and presentation of work. New artists may benefit from a mentorship.
Arts SA can also help artists improve their profile and presentation, expand their markets, and receive the wisdom of outstanding artists. There are also annual grants for a large project and a major commission, and for public art and design.
At the national level, The Australia Council for the Arts has support for new works, fellowships for established, and young and emerging artists, and high-level awards and overseas residencies. Organisations can also apply for funding to help promote and present the work of artists.
In 2010–11, the $163 million they invested in artists and arts organisations included 917 grants to individual artists (emerging, mid-career and established).
Local artist, Cath Cantlon, has sat on many selection panels. “We assess who is going to benefit and the value to arts development for the audience and artist,” Cath said. “There is always strong debate.
“The amount of money becomes an issue because always more is asked for than is available.
“Applicants have to understand what the funding bodies are looking for and go for it. They need to have artists with credibility attached to those applications.”
Federal funds are the hardest to get but can be won with the right application. Cath said applicants need to know what’s current, and read, understand and meet the criteria. “Find a project that gives you a point of difference and is exciting and stimulates their imagination.”
“I think there’s an opportunity now in regional SA for a community to become really cutting edge and be supported.”
Cath also stresses compliance. “One missed tick on the application and you are out.”
Some private money, usually much smaller amounts, can also be won by artists though grants such as the Janet Holmes a Court Artists’ Grant.
And then the artist has to find time to make the art. No matter which way you look at it, the life of the artist is not an easy one. Many of them think it’s a good year when their income rises into a bracket where they actually have to pay tax.
Email a friend