What does it mean to make a living as an artist in Australia today? Artists as Workers offers a rich, four-decade perspective on the lives, careers and working conditions of professional artists across the country. The seventh in a landmark study published in 2024, carried out independently over the last four decades by Professor Throsby and colleagues at Macquarie University, with support from Creative Australia.
The latest study highlights not only the challenges artists face, but the diversity they bring to Australia’s cultural life—across communities, identities, artforms and lived experiences. By examining who participates in the artistic workforce, the barriers they encounter and how their practices are evolving, the research provides valuable insight into building a more inclusive, sustainable and representative future for Australian artists.