What we learned about Visual Arts in Scotland part of: With thanks to: Scottish Artists Union, engage, Wasps Introduction What we learned about Visual Arts in Scotland • 2 This digest provides a summary of key The two surveys, one targeted towards individuals roles in organisations chose to complete the findings from the two Mapping the Visual and the other towards organisations, provided individuals survey, but left qualitative comments Arts in Scotland surveys undertaken a wealth of knowledge directly from those relating to their organisational contexts. The survey by SCAN in 2015. SCAN was working in the visual arts sector. The surveys respondents include individual artists, directors commissioned by Creative Scotland to covered topics such as: demographics, artistic and CEOs of Scottish institutions, institutional and undertake this mapping research as part practice, working patterns, individual’s income self-employed workers in the visual arts. of Creative Scotland’s wider Visual Arts and expenditure, audience engagement, career Sector Review. The digest draws findings paths, networks, perceptions and aspirations. All written answers to open ended text questions from two reports compiled by researcher For organisations the survey mapped similar have been read and analysed and will inform Rachel Blanche, a survey of individuals topics, as well as staffing, operations and public both the Creative Scotland Visual Arts Review and and a survey of organisations operating funding. The questions in each survey were a mix SCANs ongoing development activity. in the visual arts sector in Scotland. of quantitative and qualitative – with respondents being given ample opportunity to leave further As part of the Mapping the Visual Arts project comments in all sections which were fed back to SCAN has also developed an online digital map the research teams. of visual arts organisations in Scotland, identified in the survey and through further research. We The individuals survey garnered a huge response have also created a visual representation of of 680 returns and in addition 87 organisations where artists and individuals are based for the completed the organisational survey. Although digest below. the number of organisational respondents is lower we feel it is still representative of the range of organisations working in the visual arts sector in Scotland (of those who identified their organisation; 17 are Creative Scotland Regularly Funded Organisations). We also know that a significant number of people who hold permanent A snapshot of respondents What we learned about Visual Arts in Scotland • 3 Artists and the wider workforce live Organisations are spread across the People who work within the visual arts throughout Scotland but are more likely country with the majority based in the are highly qualified to reside in the central belt central belt — Over 60% have an undergraduate degree — Half of respondents live in Glasgow (30%) —Glasgow (29%) and Edinburgh (19%) in Fine Art or Design and 39% had a or Edinburgh (20%) — The next highest identified were Highland (8%) postgraduate qualification, including 31% with — The next highest responses were and then Aberdeen, Dumfries and a Masters in Fine Art or Design. Only 5% of Highlands, Dumfries and Galloway, Galloway, Dundee and Fife (all 5%). respondents reported having no formal training. Fife, the Scottish Borders and Aberdeenshire (each had between 4-5% of respondents). A snapshot of respondents What we learned about Visual Arts in Scotland • 4 A majority of respondents to the survey The majority of organisations are small in More than half of individuals work hold multiple roles in the sector scale with small numbers of staff from home — 72% of all respondents identified as an artist ­­— The majority (84%) report income of less than ­­— Of those who need a designated studio or — 24% of all respondents undertake a Curatorial £425,000, with 58% reporting an income of workspace for their work 56% work from home. Role £200,000 or less A further 12% of all respondents also make — 22% work as Workshop Facilitators or Tutors ­­— The majority of respondents report less than 10 their work in situ — 19% are Academics or Lecturers members of staff and approximately one third ­­— 61% stated that they paid for studio space or — 12% are Writers have three or fewer premises — 12% are Producers ­­— Only 57% of staff are on permanent contracts ­­— Individuals accessing studio space mainly — And 11% have a role as a Volunteer ­­— 40 of the 87 responding organisations do so in the central belt. 60% of those with indicated they have a venue; 15 own these external studio space were based in Edinburgh premises and 25 rent from a local authority or (19%) or Glasgow (41%). cultural trust, private or Government landlord. Artist Curatorial Role Workshop Facilitators and Tutors Academics or Lecturers 56% Writers Producers Volunteers About equality, diversity and inclusion What we learned about Visual Arts in Scotland • 5 92% of respondents identified as Although women outnumber men in the 3% of survey respondents were in receipt being white sector, men earn more money of disability living allowance. 92% White ­­—Across all employment types men working in the Visual Arts UK statistics report that 20% of the 2% BAME visual arts earn 45% more (total median earnings) UK wide workforce identifies as disabled. In 2% Other than their female counterparts Scotland 58% of responding organisations offer 4% Prefer not to say —For those who spent more than 35 hours on full disabled access, 37% have partial disabled their visual arts work females were on average access and 5% currently provide no disabled earning 56% less than men from their visual arts access at all. work. High numbers of organisations have equalities and environmental policies ­­— 94% of respondents to this question had an existing Equalities, diversity and inclusion policy ­­—61% had a sustainability policy Our responses suggest more women than ­­—33% had an audience development policy. men working in the visual arts* Male 29.4% Female 68.3% 2.4% preferring not to state gender *This represents a bigger contrast to the UK visual arts workforce Equalities, diversity and inclusion Policy as a whole where females only represent 54% with males making up 46%. Source: Creative & Cultural Skills, Visual Arts Statistics Sustainability Policy 2012-13. Audience Development Policy About what we do What we learned about Visual Arts in Scotland • 6 The creative programme is the largest Individuals also invest financially in their Artistic practice is diversifying budget commitment for organisations practice Comparing historic existing data* on artform Artistic and creative programme 44% of Respondents were asked about their operating specialism on the visual arts in Scotland there has expenses costs and expenses, including materials, premises, been a clear diversification in artistic practice. Administration (24%) etc. A total of 42% of respondents spend £1,000- Building costs (14%) £5,000 each year as part of their work or *2003 Making Their Mark report. 4% for Learning and Education practice. Almost a fifth (19%) pay out between 4% for Marketing and Communications £5,000 and £10,000 annually. These sums 10% other reduce net income from already low earnings across the sector. Organisations indicated they worked with or supported around 168 artists per year 29% 27% PAINTING AND DRAWING PAINTING 25% Organisations support artists in a variety of ways, including: — learning and engagement activities (working with on average 70 artists per year) —exhibitions (44) PERFORMANCE/LIVE ART PERFORMANCE/LIVE INSTALLATION FILM & VIDEO —other in kind support (43) —performances and events (27) 13% —residencies (11) —new commissions (8) About working conditions and pay What we learned about Visual Arts in Scotland • 7 The visual arts community is highly Earnings from visual art work alone are 45% of respondents estimate that over qualified but personal income levels similarly low half the work they do is unpaid or are low voluntary — 63% of self-employed respondents work up to — The average (median) income (from all or more than 35 hours per week in the visual The nature of unpaid work reported by all sources) for all respondents was £14,000 arts individuals centres on visual arts practice (73%), which is well below the national average of — 55% of self-employed respondents earn less although other significant activities include £27,000* than £10,000 from their visual arts work with independent advisory and consultancy (29%), — 86% of organisations reported that they pay 31% earning less than £5,000 in their best independent curatorial projects (27%), art writing staff and artists the living wage and/or union year. Reported earnings are even lower in and blogging (27%) and work in artist led rates, with just over half of the remainder leanest years. committees (24%). having no paid staff at all. AVERAGE SCOTTISH MEDIAN FULL TIME WAGE £27,000* AVERAGE WAGE OF ALL RESPONDENTS £14,000 £ AVERAGE WAGE OF SELF-EMPLOYED ARTISTS £12,000 £ *Scottish Parliament, 2015 About working conditions and pay What we learned about Visual Arts in Scotland • 8 Organisations are supported by high The visual arts sector is supported by Professional Development is not numbers of volunteers and the majority of freelance practitioners and part-time guaranteed in employment and usually workplace opportunities are unpaid workers self funded — Data provided by 45 organisations shows that — 61% of respondents said they were self — Over half of organisations (53%) do not have the hours contributed by volunteers averages employed a Continuous Professional Development plan in 1,102 hours each per year, an average — 31% of respondents have either a permanent place contribution per volunteer of over 30 hours per or fixed-term employed position in the sector — Respondents report that the majority of annum — More than one third of all reported permanent professional development opportunities are self- — Nearly half (41) of organisations offered posts were part time funded.