Research Survey Reports

Key Findings

• The average salary for an Artistic Director has increased by 24% since 2011.
• The Arts is far behind in terms of remuneration for similar roles in other not-for-profit sectors – the average not-for-profit CEO salary is $119,766, compared to $85,444 for an Arts and Culture CEO.
• There is a widening division in remuneration across the sector with an $85,370 difference between the highest and lowest Artistic Director salary.
• The youth arts sector pay the lowest salaries, with average Artistic Director salaries actually declining almost 10% between 2015 and 2017.
• People with disability are engaged in our sector at 1.63%, which is a substantially lower degree than the approximate 8% in the broader Australian labour force.

Key Findings:

• On average, respondents worked on 8 projects a year.
• The average rate charged for planning and facilitating a 2-hour masterclass was $263.98.
• The independent sector relies on ‘alternative economies’ – in which they exchange pro-bono advice, space-sharing, administrative assistance, and work on each other’s projects.
• Only 60% of artists received the fee they asked for in their most recent engagements.
• 65% of “Established’ respondents still supplemented their Independent arts practice with other employment.
• 15% of ‘Established’ respondents identified as Culturally &/ Linguistically Diverse, compared to 34% of ‘Emerging’ respondents indicating a more difficult path for CALD people.
• Nearly 40% of all respondents do not have a mentor but would like one.