An Alternative Guide for Young Creatives Planning a Career in the Arts 

By Cobi Krieger

In May 2021, just a few weeks before joining Creative Generation, I completed work on ‘Make or Break: Race and Ethnicity in Entry-Level Compensation for Arts Administrators in Los Angeles County’ a study focused on the relationship between entry-level earnings and the diversity of Los Angeles-based entry-level arts administrators. Personally, this was an attempt to put a spotlight on one barrier in the arts that I had rarely noticed being addressed in literature, policy, or even conversations between colleagues. No one likes to talk about money, however, the lack of transparency about the value of our work, as the study went on to show, has detrimental effects on the working conditions and experiences of all arts administrators, and especially those who are BIPOC. 

While planning this study, I realized how arts administrators, especially those at the entry-level, have a particularly broad impact on other parts of the arts ecosystem. Arts administrators hire artists, commission new artwork, plan programs, form marketing campaigns, create audiences, raise money, manage budgets, prioritize funds and resources; they shape many aspects of the arts as we know them. If the expected compensation in an arts administration career excludes qualified BIPOC candidates, that is something worth learning more about, I thought. 

So, I formed my research question: 

What did we study?

The study, which was based on a new sample of data gathered especially to address this issue, was published by the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture with the Center for Business and Management of the Arts at Claremont Graduate University. It includes quantitative data, such as demographics, income, education, as well as qualitative data - a series of in depth interviews with entry-level arts administrators who agreed to share more details about their experience working in the arts. 

In a nearly 100-page long study, this dense and complex topic begins to be unpacked. Many data points, findings, and recommendations are offered to both the arts organizations who employ arts administrators, as well as the funders that support these organizations. Since its publication, the study has also served arts administrators themselves, validating their experiences and informing them about others’. 

Recommendations for Young Creatives

Keeping in mind Creative Generation’s long-term vision “Young creatives are central to thriving communities and more just societies,” I offer a few recommendations (based on the findings and recommendations in the study) for such young creatives aiming for a career in the arts:

Know Your Numbers: Student debt vs expected income and living expenses

Like many career paths, working in the arts means you are likely to need, or better yet, want a specialized education. While student loans are available to you, that’s only the first step - what happens once you need to start paying them? In many other fields, the salary you are likely to make in your first few years working out of school will suffice for both your living expenses and your student loan payments. In the arts, no such assumption can be made. Relatively speaking, student debt is high and salaries are low. In Los Angeles, according to the study, the average annual earnings for all entry-level respondents was just under $37,000, lower than a living wage. The average student loan debt was just over $32,000. When you decide what school to attend, make sure your decision is informed not only by the cost of tuition, but also by your earning potential, as well as the local living expenses you are likely to face where you will be looking for a job. 

Know Their Numbers: Learn as much as you can about your potential employers

Arts organizations are plagued with bias and systemic racism. This fact isn’t new, however, many workers have become more vocal about it, and began to unionize in order to change it. In Los Angeles, according to the study, BIPOC arts administrators earned 35% less than their White counterparts, regardless of their education. As you search for your ideal employers, go beyond the official information they publicize. Try to learn about the organizational culture and working experience you are likely to face should you be hired. Look up how diverse the organization’s leadership is. Attend a program and observe what audience they attract. Do you know anyone who works there now or has in the past? If so, make it a priority to take them out for coffee and ask them to share their experiences with you so you don’t end up in a work space that doesn’t fit who you are. 

Know Your Worth: Have a clear sense of what you bring to the field

Different people bring unique value to their work. Sadly, this value is often not compensated in an equitable way. Many arts administrators interviewed in the study felt their low earnings damaged their self-worth. While your salary is not the only measure of your worth as a young professional, it is still an important one. As you take your first steps in your career, be able to clearly articulate what your value is and what compensation you expect to receive for it. This should be informed by common pay scales in your area, your line of work within the arts, as well as your own personal financial needs, especially if they are directly related to what makes you qualified for the job. If the job requires a bachelor’s degree - account for the cost of your education. If you need a car to do your job - account for your car payments. But also important is who you are, what unique perspective you have, and how your employer would benefit from it. For example, if you’re active in a community unreached by an organization, that is an asset you can offer, and you can account for that too. 

Know What it Takes and How Long You can Take It: Seek the support you need to overcome barriers and achieve your career goals

Maintaining a career in the arts often requires ‘external’ support, such as working another job outside of the arts or relying on financial support from family. In Los Angeles, according to the study, 35% of respondents relied on additional financial income from their family and 23% relied on income from work outside of the arts. On an individual level there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In a broader perspective, this does suggest that the arts offer career paths that are less sustainable. Keep that in mind as you try to plan your career goals, and try to find sources of support you are comfortable with until you feel self-sufficient and financially stable. One source that came up in the study is the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, available to full-time employees of US nonprofits.

Final Thoughts

Arts organizations can be challenging to navigate, especially for young professionals. This study was created to inform arts administrators, their employers, and funders about how compensation goes beyond an individual work agreement to shape the working culture in our ecosystem. Now more than ever, in the aftermath of a global health and financial crisis, as well as one of the largest racial justice protests in recent US history, being informed about such barriers is imperative to achieving change, both individually and across our entire field.