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soupdumpling1 t1_iy5jile wrote

The art world is for people that don't have to work for a living - they have an allowance or fund from family. They might be passionate about their job and work hard, but these salaries cut everyone but their class off these opportunities.

See also: Conde Nast jobs, publishing industry, etc.

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NorbertHerbertFrank t1_iy6hmad wrote

I work at a museum and NYC and don’t have a trust fund or allowance. Most of my colleagues fall into the same boat. You are incorrect

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shutmywhoremouth t1_iy6jucx wrote

Same. I've worked in the non profit arts and social services sectors for decades. While there are some trust fund folks, the majority of us scrimped, had roommates, lived check to check and developed side hustles until we burnt out and/or left the field.

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SmellyAlpaca t1_iy88xwl wrote

May I ask why you choose to work in this field? I mean that respectfully, sorry if the question sounds rude — it just seems like the pay and conditions are terrible. Especially when at the end you say many leave the field. What do you get out of it that makes you stay?

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claushauler t1_iy8agxg wrote

Getting to be around art and artists all day can really be a blast. It's genuinely interesting to see the process and if you're into it every day is like going to work in Disneyland. That said : the wages are often ridiculously poor and the hours long. It's great until you can't take it anymore.

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shutmywhoremouth t1_iy8yjkh wrote

It's a fair question and I appreciate the way you asked. I chose both the arts and social services because they are meaningful to me, I'm passionate about them, and the work is aligned with my values. However these fields are among those that are undervalued, under-resourced and therefore can be highly exploitative. I have a master's degree in social work that cost tens of thousands of dollars and four years of time and energy to get. Initially I didn't take too significant of a pay cut (I worked full time in commercial theater while pursuing my degree), but my earning trajectory was lowered overall.

I believe in people's right to quality and culturally affirming health and mental health care so I have stayed in the field. It's disheartening to realize that a lot of policy makers and organizational leaders don't share those beliefs or think it's okay to exploit workers and community members in the process. I think that's what drives a lot of people from the field. In my experience, even when people can/are willing to find ways to expand income or sustain a side hustle, it feels like an ongoing gut punch to be so undervalued and like your just a cog in an oppressive machine.

Sorry if that didn't completely answer your question. tldr: it's complicated and people have all kinds of reasons

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SmellyAlpaca t1_iy93t6u wrote

Thanks for the detailed answer. It’s a tough situation to be in — and not easy problems to solve. I don’t have anything helpful to say but I hope you all get more funding, and that you are paid what you’re worth!

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_allycat t1_iy7ixry wrote

The literal trust fund kids (that were not given high positions by nepotism) don't last in the arts. They're not willing or wanting to go through the hard work and emotional and physical abuse of entry level arts jobs because they can fall back on traveling/entrepreneurship/influencer/family business and it was likely a random noncommitted career pursuit in the first place thinking it would 'be fun'.

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mmmmvodka t1_iy7xb8f wrote

This right here. They get their few years of experience and then depart for things like finance client work made possible with their families connections.

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iStealyournewspapers t1_iy8i7ou wrote

You’re stereotyping here. There are always lazy people of any income background. I know multiple people who came from money and had a lot of help who are now extremely successful and work very hard. There’s also a range of wealth. Someone who gets a million a year from daddy, well yeah maybe they wont work too hard, but that’s an incredibly rare case. It’s more like lots of people getting their rent paid for or subsidized, or having a credit card for emergencies, or getting a lump sum a handful of times after turning 18. It’s not enough to be lazy the rest of your life. It’s enough to have a leg up and deal with less challenges than someone who has zero help.

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iceols t1_iy6o9rd wrote

Naw, I just live poor af in a hoarder house so I can do art for a living. Not a joke, this is literally how I live. Some other folks in my graduating class live 5 artists to a rented house so they can all afford it.

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lawnguylandlolita t1_iy8bla0 wrote

Disagree. I’ve been duking it out for 20 years and now make enough to support my family. I may be a unicorn tho. Paid my graduate school off and everything. It’s not easy though and I work hard.

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