REA! ART TALK IN MILAN: PRECARITY IN THE ARTS, WHAT ELSE?

Artists have to cover transportation costs, accommodation fees and instal their artworks themselves, often finding themselves doing several jobs to sustain their careers or deciding to turn away from the arts.

As we move away from public funding, we find that the autonomy and precarity of artists are deeply interwoven, as explained by Sepp Eckenhoussen (Co-director of Platform BK, Belgium-based organisation behind the Artist Fee guidelines). In other words, autonomy gives freedom, but it also confines one to a situation of instability. Nevertheless, the situation is changing as many artists are ‘enterprising’ in what Silvio Lorusso described as the ‘entreprecariat’ (a mix between being an entrepreneur and a precarious worker).

What position do artists have in different countries? Is it truly possible to apply recommended guidelines? Is the cultural world ready to embrace change? What does the future look like?

Paola Borrione

Paola Borrione is President and Head of Research at the Fondazione Santagata for Cultural Economy, and Doctoral Researcher in Cultural Studies at the University of Siena. She is an expert in cultural economy and contemporary cultural production, specifically interested in the relation to digital technologies. With many years of experience, she has conducted a selection of research projects, as well as strategy and educational consultancy projects, both at a national and international level. Paola Borrione is the author of many publications, among which ‘Arte al Futuro’ (‘Art to the Future’) – written alongside Enrico Bertacchini. ‘Arte al Futuro’ was born from a research on the professional development and career of artists in Italy. An active contribution to the discourse around these themes, this publication proposed an understanding of current developments, presented the reality lived and experienced by artists and operators, and formulated concrete actions and political solutions.

Silvia Gardini

Silvia Gardini (She/Her) is a visual artist, activist and lawyer, who studied Civil Law and Criminal and Criminal Procedural law at the University of Leiden. She is currently studying at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Munich. Her research focuses on abuse of power and gender-based violence in the art context. She is also on the board of the artist collective ENGAGEMENT ARTS NL.

Jessica Capra

Jessica Capra is a cultural professional with ten years of experience working in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Developing cultural projects for and with artists and cultural professionals to address their specific needs, she is committed to making a change in the artworld. Her passion for motivating, empowering and supporting others, especially young cultural professionals and artists, led to the creation of The Artist and The Others, a non-profit foundation based in Maastricht & Munich. The Foundation provides artists with the knowledge, skills and connections they need to develop their careers further, while working partners across Europe.

Each project she develops aims at creating a positive impact in Society and value within the contemporary cultural world by enabling artists to gain the professional knowledge, skills and connections they need to develop a sustainable career in the arts.

As well as coordinating and managing different projects, since moving to Munich in 2017 she co-curated the project ‘Extra-Ordinary Women’ (part of the #sieinspiriertmich Festival), two editions of Munich’s Summer Training for emerging artists in cooperation with Platform, and ‘The Essentials’ – a photographic exhibition presented in the U-Bahn stations of Munich. She initiated the ‘Breaking Boundaries’ project in 2021 developing a new model for international exhibitions, while researching fair and sustainable art practices. Breaking Boundaries connects spaces and professionals in Istanbul, Maastricht, Castiglione dei Pepoli, Munich, and Amsterdam.