Rising costs for materials, energy, insurance and shipping are impacting Australian artists. Gina Fairley asks artists how they maintain their artistic practice under such frugal conditions.
How real is the impact of rising costs?
Sculptor Abdul-Rahman Abdullah tells ArtsHub: ‘Whenever I’m asked to be a part of a project, it’s the first question I ask. I’ve had to reduce the amount of work in shows because budgets haven’t kept pace with rising costs. This year I’ve had to become far more strategic about the scale and complexity of work that I can make; it’s a real balancing act between what I want, what is achievable and what are the potential returns.
He continues: ‘I put so much pressure on myself to make every moment in the studio count, I literally can’t afford any missteps. I think that the real artistry in this job – is still having this job tomorrow.’
It is a view supported by Sydney-based photographer, Sandy Edwards: ‘I work as a freelance curator and producer with photographers wanting to exhibit their work. So what I have mainly noticed, since pre-COVID, is that there are fewer artists producing exhibitions for various reasons, one of which must be financial.’...Keep reading on artsHub.
How real is the impact of rising costs?
Sculptor Abdul-Rahman Abdullah tells ArtsHub: ‘Whenever I’m asked to be a part of a project, it’s the first question I ask. I’ve had to reduce the amount of work in shows because budgets haven’t kept pace with rising costs. This year I’ve had to become far more strategic about the scale and complexity of work that I can make; it’s a real balancing act between what I want, what is achievable and what are the potential returns.
He continues: ‘I put so much pressure on myself to make every moment in the studio count, I literally can’t afford any missteps. I think that the real artistry in this job – is still having this job tomorrow.’
It is a view supported by Sydney-based photographer, Sandy Edwards: ‘I work as a freelance curator and producer with photographers wanting to exhibit their work. So what I have mainly noticed, since pre-COVID, is that there are fewer artists producing exhibitions for various reasons, one of which must be financial.’...Keep reading on artsHub.