Economic Precariousness in the Cultural Sector:
The recent study Working and Living Conditions of Artists and Cultural Professionals After the Pandemic (2023), conducted by Victoria Ateca and Anna Villarroya with the support of the Caixa Foundation, reveals alarming data. Nearly 60% of professionals in the cultural sector report earning less than €1,500 per month, a figure significantly lower than the average salary in Spain. This economic precariousness is compounded by the difficulty of balancing personal, family, and professional life.
This may be linked to the study The Status and Working Conditions of Artists and Cultural and Creative Professionals by the European Commission (2023), which shows that cultural workers are more likely to be self-employed or freelancers, with 32% of them being self-employed compared to 14% in other sectors, reinforcing the economic instability affecting the sector.
The importance of work-life balance
This situation highlights the poor working conditions that affect the sector and raises an urgent question: how can we improve these conditions to ensure a fairer and healthier work environment? It’s not just about making the existing problems visible, but also about fostering spaces where organizations consider these factors when defining job profiles and work needs.
The challenge goes beyond salaries. Around 70% of cultural professionals report feeling significant time pressure and the inability to disconnect from work. Therefore, improvements must not be limited to the economic aspect but should also include policies that promote a real balance between work and personal life.
To achieve meaningful change, the aforementioned study suggests that improvements in the working conditions of cultural workers require the implementation of more robust policies, including access to social security and tax measures that acknowledge the atypical nature of their work. Examples include European countries that have adopted specific legal frameworks to improve the working conditions of artists, such as Spain, Luxembourg, and Belgium.
Only through a conscious and collaborative approach, involving all cultural stakeholders and relevant institutions, can we ensure working conditions that respect the dignity and well-being of professionals in the arts and culture.
If you would like to explore this topic further, you can consult the full studies here: