The Big Artists Survey Discussion By AIR Activists 

AIR - Artists' Interaction & Representation is a fast-growing, pro-active membership body for practising visual and applied artists.

The mission is to be the voice of visual and applied artists. AIR identifies and explores issues that impact on artists' practice, and campaigns for artistic, legislative and economic measures that enhance artists' working lives and their professional status. AIR promotes the central role of the artist within a diverse and sustainable cultural landscape.

This open and informal evening will debate one of the largest surveys of artists that was conducted in July 2011 as a joint project between AIR and a-n The Artists Information Company. The Big Artists Survey has provided essential information both for artists actively lobbying for improvements in working conditions, artistic practice and professional development as well as for policy makers and funders who need insights into artists’ current concerns and priority issues.

"The Big Artists Survey reveals that visual artists are becoming more and more dependent on other sources of income to sustain their lives: a majority of artists earn a quarter, or less, of their income from their creative work, and a third of all artists earn less than £5,000 a year from their practice."
Tom Service - speech at The Paul Hamlyn Foundation Awards for Artists ceremony, November 2011

Follow live coverage of the event on Twitter #bigartists
http://www.artsadmin.co.uk/events