The business of the arts?

Most people know that I am passionate about the concept of turning the arts into a paying business. Where artists can earn a decent living and be recognised for their talents and ability to translate our daily existence into works of art (visual and performing arts)

The Daily Maverick has published this brilliant article "The art scene cocktail round: Anyone bored yet?" Andrew Miller makes some interesting points about the current support of artists, especially visual artists and type of training that the arts really need. It is noted that the majority of genuine entrepreneurial activity amongst the youth appears to take place in the arts - so where is the support for these people?
Andrew Miller makes three valuable recommendations:
 1. Accept that the broad world of the arts is as much a business as a creative calling – and support it accordingly with real BDS.
 2. Move (far) beyond the idea that an expo or arts showcase has inherent value for the artists.
 3. Aggressively seek to expose young artists and creative business people to real digital literacy.  

Imagine what the arts would look like if we could we move from subsistence, survivalist arts businesses to operational entities that employ people? Worth thinking about

"Business" Education for Artists

I firmly believe that the performing arts needs a corps of "non-creative" professionals who can run the industry effectively. People who can let our talented artists improve their skill and perform more. Cynically you might say that it gives people like me a place in the industry.

It seems like madness that an artist has to create, produce and then manage their work to be able to perform. In any other sector we bring in others who specialise in a particular field like financial management, human resources, logistics and so on; and yet artists are expected to do all this and provide a world class performance. Ask any creative and all they want to do is perform / create. Unfortunately there is often not the work - unless you create it yourself. In South Africa the arts courses focus on the creative aspect of the arts with a few modules on the business of the arts. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all our higher institutions offered a business of the arts programme?


This idea has been growing over the past three years which has led me to research the curriculum for arts studies in the USA, UK, Europe and Australia. The arts is seen as a reputable profession that needs trained / qualified people. The programmes focus on the above aspects as well as technical skills, arts history, arts education / audience development as well as performance. 

Butts In the Seats takes this as a given but focuses on the teaching of the curriculum referring to an excellent article by The Savvy Musicians Blog called Reimagining Higher Education for the Arts. Cutler suggests that students looking for a career in the arts need to be more than just talented artists. They need to be good collaborators and have some basic entrepreneurial ambitions.