About the Arts Pay Survey

Thank you for participating in Arts Pay 2025, a comprehensive longitudinal survey about working conditions in the arts and cultural sector. This research, conducted by Arts Professional and Baker Richards, builds on our 2018 and 2022 surveys to explore how people experience work in the arts today – from access and precarity to equity and workplace culture.

Why this matters: We’re examining how societal shifts and structural factors shape who gets to work in the arts, who gets to stay, and what it takes to thrive. Your responses will help build a clearer picture of the realities facing arts workers and inform advocacy for positive change.

What you’ll get back: We’ll be sharing our findings with all participants through a dedicated results dashboard. You’ll be able to compare your own salary and benefits with others in similar roles, see if your experiences are shared by others, and access evidence you could use in your own workplace discussions. Recruiters and employers will also access better information to pitch competitive salaries and improve working conditions.

About the survey:

• Time required: The survey will take between 10 and 30 minutes depending on how many sections you choose to complete
• Prize draw: Enter to win £250 (first prize) or one of 5 annual Arts Professional individual subscriptions
• Your voice matters: Whether you’re thriving or struggling, your experience contributes to the bigger picture
• Confidentiality: All responses are anonymous and will be reported in aggregate
• Flexibility: You can save your progress and return later – sections 2-6 are optional
• Preview available: If you’d like to review all questions before starting, click here to download a PDF version
• Results sharing: We’ll send you a link to our findings dashboard once the research is complete
• Laptop or PC recommended: The survey can be accessed via any web browser, but we recommend using a laptop or PC for the best experience

The survey covers several key areas:

• Section 1: Your current work and pay in the arts
• Section 2: Career pathways and sustainability
• Section 3: Resource distribution and equity
• Section 4: Workplace culture and wellbeing
• Section 5: Your vision for a better sector
• Section 6: Demographics

Who should participate: Anyone who works or has recently worked in the arts and cultural sector. Whether you’re a freelancer juggling multiple projects, an employee at a major institution, an independent artist, or someone who supports the arts behind the scenes – your perspective matters.

A note on honesty: We know some of these topics can feel sensitive. The arts sector is small, and people worry about speaking openly. Your responses are completely anonymous, and we’ve designed questions to capture both positive practices and challenges. The more honest the responses, the more useful this research will be for everyone.

Thank you for contributing to this important work. Your insights will help shape conversations about the future of working in the arts.

Don’t forget – you can enter our prize draw for a chance to win £250 or an Arts Professional subscription after completing the survey.

Your responses are anonymous. This survey is being carried out on behalf of Arts Professional by Baker Richards Consulting Ltd, a UK-based market research company.  By taking this survey you consent to Baker Richards recording and processing your responses in accordance with their privacy policy. Survey responses will be kept for as long as needed to analyse results.