Commissioned by Creative United and undertaken by Coventry University’s Centre for Creative Economies, the 2024 survey report provides an evidence base of UK artists’ incomes and the role of public investment schemes like Own Art into artistic consumer markets.
The report explores artists’ income from sales of their work, additional income streams (such as teaching and consultancy), and socio-economic characteristics. The findings paint a stark picture of low incomes, inequalities and income gaps.
Artists are adapting through diversification, but current data suggest that adaptability alone does not deliver sustainable livelihoods. To realise the full potential of the creative economy, greater recognition and policy support are required — including, for example, fair pay frameworks, investment in sales infrastructure, and continued backing for schemes like Own Art which provide vital pathways between artists and the ability to grow art and craft markets.
What were the findings?
56% of respondents earned less than £5,000 from selling their art in 2024
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Even when additional artistic income is taken into account (such as teaching or facilitation), median annual income was still only £12,500, well below the UK living wage (£24,000).
Fewer than 10% earned over £25,000 from the sale of artwork
Read the full report
Creative United's response
Following the findings of the report Creative United, as part of our ongoing mission to support creative livelihoods across the UK, in partnership with all four UK arts councils have responded by expanding our flagship Own Art consumer credit scheme. The changes, including higher limits on Own Art’s publicly subsidised loans, will widen market opportunities for artists across the UK. You can read more about our response and the expansion of the Own Art Scheme here.