We take a look back at the past three years and our ripple effect in the creative community.
Imagine if our Prime Minister was an arts lover.
How would our cities transform?
Would space be seen differently?
Would art be better valued and encouraged at all schools?
How would we approach problem solving if creativity was embraced and encouraged?
Would we be happier, more mindful, more tolerant, more adaptive with more art in our lives?
AUSTRALIANS CARE ABOUT ART BUT OUR ARTS SECTOR IS STRUGGLING
We know that 84% of everyday Australians see arts and culture as having a positive impact on their lives (Australian Arts Council). More than half of Australian citizens said the arts had a ‘big’ or ‘very big’ impact on their happiness, wellbeing and mental health and that they rely on arts and culture to live whole and connected lives
But its not easy being a creative.
Only 1.2% of government expenditure goes into the creative sector funding, with this figure declining 18.9% since 2007 (OECD Australia).
Arts and cultural business are increasingly lacking, with over 50% of cultural business ceasing to operate as of March 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and lack of support.
A Macquarie University report commissioned by the Australia Council concluded that 53% of artists’ time is spent in non-arts related work.
The Australian Centre for Future Work report, Creativity in Crisis, found that as of February 2021, around 45% of employees in arts services were working in precarious employment positions (freelance, casual roles or contracted).
THE RIPPLE EFFECT IN OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY
At Art Pharmacy, our mission is to transform spaces through an ethical approach aimed at supporting a sustainable creative community. We provide a bridge to bring art into the realms of the everyday community and in the hallways of decision makers.
We work across the full spectrum of the art world with established, emerging, represented and unrepresented creative practitioners to deliver art projects that elevate important stories from a vast array of community groups.
Our ethical processes and authentic artist engagement enriches the experience for our clients and the wider creative community. Our aim is to see diverse art in everybody’s everyday life.
In the past three years Art Pharmacy has supported over 1620 artists and contributed over $1,434,000 into the creative community.
What we are most proud of is seeing the positive ripple effect our work has had in communities; How it has changed mindsets, created engagement, encouraged creativity and brought joy into people’s lives.