Analysis, interpretation and publication of artists working conditions data

Applied Insights supports the work of policymakers, funders, higher education, local councils and government to provide a deep, data-informed understanding of what it means to sustain and grow a creative career.

Through focused snapshots in time, comparative analysis across data gathered from our Applied partnership, combined with other existing research, Applied Insights delve into key questions and situations that affect artists’ lives and work.

Insights reports to date include:

  • Artists’ Earnings: shifts in sources of income for artists between 2022 and 2024, reflecting on the cost of living and post-COVID landscape.
  • Disability and cost of living: while all artists experience precarious careers Disabled artists experiences of poorer mental health, lower income and savings, more debt and fewer opportunities, mean they are particularly badly affected.

You can read the Applied insights articles online below, or answer a couple of questions to download PDFs to read on your own devices.

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Artists' Earnings

The Applied Partnership has been collecting data to generate insights into how artists live and work since 2017. We regularly analyse our data to monitor trends and identify challenges in artists' working lives. This article, part of our Applied Insights series, explores shifts in how artists have earned between 2022 and 2024.

Disability and cost of living

In the context of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, Disabled artists experience poorer mental health, less income and savings, more debt and fewer opportunities. While all artists experience precarious careers (lack of savings, drops in income), disabled artists are particularly badly hit.