The invisible yet integral link between art and the economy
Words by Maddie Gilbert
Rishi Sunak claiming people in the art sector should “restrain and find other jobs” has left a dent in the reception of the appreciation of these disciplines. The suggestion of the anticipated destruction of the artistic degrees to favour the more ‘academically’ challenging careers, such as maths and science, has created a much worrying stir amongst the communities. Questioning their job security and value within the wider economical field of art and visual culture degrees.
Workers in the art sector are beginning to be viewed under the lines of ‘soft-skilled workers’ and the skills one gathers from studying these courses become over-looked more and more. However, what these critics of the ‘soft’ field neglect to understand is that, within this modern changing environment, the skills that are naturally obtained from studying the more creative degrees allows for the development of fast critical thinkers. Many employers are looking at these skills as being desirable qualities. This naturally allows for employees to have the highly demanded competences and teachable strengths that some with more of a scientific mindset might find harder to understand and learn.
It is the new tidal wave of millennials that bring in the chance of change. Degrees in the arts and cultures are becoming increasingly popular due to the skills that many develop throughout the course, such as critical thinking as well as creativity and innovation that many employers look for. With some universities requiring higher A-level grades for undergraduate studies in Liberal Art degrees than Medical or Economic degrees; for example, Birmingham University requires AAA for Medicine and Economics while the Liberal Arts degrees in Cambridge requires A*AA, yet many assume you would need lower grades.
Statistics of the U.K. Creative Industries.
A study in 2016 produced by the Business Register and Employment Survey concluded that the art sector brought in 137,250 employment jobs whereas labour jobs only brought in 124,575 in the same year. This illustrates that not only were employers keenly looking for more creative and forward-thinking employees, but employers were also looking to improve staff knowledge and expand the range of thinking styles within the business structure. The performing arts category was the largest contributor to employment in the arts and culture industry, responsible for 35%. Artistic creation was responsible for approximately 18% of employment in the UK arts and culture industry in 2016.
An article published by the Tate Modern in 2019 stated that the gallery itself accumulates over around £100 million, of which £50 - £70 million is specific to Southwark with over 30% of the employment coming from local areas. This proves that the art and culture sector have direct links to the local welfare and economic growth. The Centre for Economics and Business Research’s (CEBR) also estimates that the arts and culture sector contributes £7.7bn to the UK economy. For every £1 of salary paid by the arts and culture industry, an additional £2.01 is generated in the wider economy through indirect and induced multiplier impacts. It is estimated that in 2016 the National Portfolio Organizations of Arts Council England (excl. museums) directly contributed £2.4bn in output, £1.2bn in Gross Value Added (GVA) and 22,300 jobs. The arts can be an important part of a city’s economic development and growth strategy—and this growth often comes without huge price tags or tax concessions.
“British Industries: Steel (London, Midland and Scottish Railway poster artwork)”, Richard Jack, 1942.
Especially during the pandemic and lockdown, many recognizable contemporary artists provided a range of entertainment through their own artist experiences as viewers were able to watch shows that not only provided educational understanding but a sense of stability. Grayson Perry created ‘ Garrison Perry’s Art Club’ which cleverly brought celebrities and artists together and allowed them to create showpieces personal to themselves. Not only did the TV program show the innovation that occurred throughout these professions but it also showed how multi-talented the guests were, managing to be skilled in both art and comedy, such as the well known comedic Joe Lycett painting a creative Chris Whitty painting with his covid centric catchphrase ‘wash your hands’. Perry later produced an art exhibition which allowed the public to view the artworks in an open exhibition in Manchester - which was postponed due to the second lockdown. The exhibition looked to show off both the talents of the celebrities but also the public who turned to art during lockdown; showing off their new found love and talents for the creative medium.
“Chris Whitty”, Joe Lycett, 2020.
However, even the cancellation of the exhibition brought a massive amount of funds to the gallery with the exhibition bringing in £10,241 in visitors. Perry later in 2022 travelled to art galleries around the UK highlighting his own work, ‘the pre-therapy years’ of his development. This brought tourism to cities which he showed his work to such as York but also brought a new dynamic of spenders, again boosting the economy, as people who watched the show then wanted to go and view Perry’s acclaimed works. Perry interestingly exclaimed that Covid allowed for a re-invention of the arts and showed how the world had pressed “a reset button” on the appreciation of the arts. Thus changing the assumptions surround the highly specific and well throughout creations.
