AIR

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With over 14,500 members, AIR is now the largest-ever membership body for visual artists. Surveyed in 2009, 90% of members confirmed they wanted AIR to “lead campaigns for increased representation of artists’ concerns to government and policy-makers.”

Low levels of remuneration and lack of status within in arts decision-making are already of great concern. AIR’s research has revealed that as some 72% of artists are self-employed they have been badly affected by the recession and continued economic downturn. According to analysis by leading UK visual arts organisation a-n The Artists Information Company, the value of openly-offered paid work for artists is down 27% on pre-recession figures.

Forthcoming cuts in levels of university staffing - the largest employer of artists - and swinging cuts at Arts Council England and Arts Council of Wales herald tough times ahead, not only for the 3,800 new art and design graduates joining the profession this summer but for all artists seeking to operate professionally and work to a high standard.

AIR believes it is imperative we sustain investment in the arts, and in particular individual artists. The arts budget is tiny; it costs 17p a week per person - less than half the price of a pint of milk. In return we have world-class arts and artists, and a sector that gives Britain an international edge as a dynamic place to live, work and do business.

Small amounts of public money work hard and stimulate a mixed economy culture that is admired the world over and delivers a real return for the country in economic terms, and in terms of the kind of society we want to be.

Arts investment plays a vital role in the journey from talent to the creative industries, which are fundamental to the future competitiveness of British business and are seen as our best route out of recession. Between 1997 and 2006 the creative economy grew faster than any other sector, accounting for 2 million jobs and £16.6 billion of exports in 2007.

Arts and culture are central to tourism in the UK: this was worth £86 billion in 2007 - 3.7% of GDP - and directly employed 1.4 million people. Inbound tourism is a vital export earner for the UK economy, worth £16.3 billion to the UK economy in 2008.

The message is clear: Sustained support of the arts will allow them to play a vital role in Britain's economic recovery

To contact the AIR Advisory Group:

First published: a-n.co.uk July 2010