Why do people choose to pursue a career in the arts? And who doesn't get to? Written with clarity, and grounded in data, Artists at Work offers an eye-opening look at what it truly means to build a career as an artist today. Joanna Woronkowicz examines how artists navigate unique challenges in America's creative economy, from unpredictable job markets to evolving copyright laws and public funding constraints.
Woronkowicz exposes current public policy as patchwork, and susceptible to changes in the political climate. Such fragile infrastructure only exacerbates race- and class-based inequalities that exist in the art world. Remaking this system requires a deeper understanding of creative labor. By shining a light on today's artists–who they are, how they train, and what they do–Woronkowicz emphasizes both that artists are not unlike other workers, and also that policies have not been designed with their unique employment behaviors in mind.
In spite of the very real challenges facing artists, there is good reason to be optimistic. Concluding with several targeted recommendations for reforms, this book is a timely and critical guide for anyone invested in supporting the future of the arts, and artists, in America.