Fair remuneration of artists and protection of their rights will sustain and fuel the growth of the creative industries worldwide, says a major international study from CISAC and UNESCO.
Creative industries worth 3% of world GDP
Cultural Times maps for the first time the global economic and social contribution of the cultural and creative industries. It looks in particular at revenue and employment, by cultural sector, across each world region.
The study has been produced jointly by the
International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) – of which DACS is a member – and the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It is published by
EY (formerly Ernst & Young).
Highlighting a total global revenue $2,250 billion – 3% of the world GDP – and the creation of 29.5 million jobs worldwide, the study reveals the cultural and creative industries as a major driver of both developed and developing economies. With creative content contributing $200 billion to global digital sales, the work of visual artists and other types of creators also powers the sale of digital devices and increases demand for high-band width telecom services.
The study emphasises that in order to sustain and unlock the full potential of the cultural and creative industries, creators must be fairly remunerated and protected by a robust and fit-for-purpose copyright framework.
Furthermore, policy-makers must address an imbalanced digital marketplace which currently favours online platforms who distribute creative content, so that artists receive fair payment when their work is exploited online.
Visual arts generates more revenue than music, film and advertising
The study also highlights the major economic contribution of the visual arts. Over $390 billion was generated globally by the sector in 2013, making it the second largest cultural industry after television - exceeding music, film and even advertising. It is also the largest employer of all the sectors, followed by books and music.
In the UK, the visual arts are flourishing. They added $3 billion gross value to the UK economy in 2013 – generated through a thriving art market estimated at $13.2 billion, and the success of sell-out public exhibitions and art trade fairs. In the UK, the sector employs more than 37,000 people.
Despite the huge commercial success of the industry, the study warns that artists in the UK are facing huge financial challenges. With 71% of artists who exhibit in public galleries receiving no pay at all, and 59% even covering their exhibition expenses themselves, 63% have had to turn down requests to exhibit because they simply cannot afford to.
Gilane Tawadros, Chief Executive, DACS said: “This report demonstrates the indisputable economic value the visual arts provides not only in the UK and Europe but around the world. As the leading global industry for jobs and second in global revenues within the creative industries, visual artists are a vital contributor to a country’s creative economy, wellbeing and cultural heritage, and they should continue to be fairly remunerated for use of their work.”
In an interview for the study, artist and DACS member Christian Furr reinforces the intrinsic cultural and social benefits of art: “Art can be used to change entrenched mind-sets… Artists are trendsetters. What they create gets copied/appropriated and filtered down into the culture around us often in a homogenised form. Art is pure from the source.”
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Cultural Times is available to download for free from CISAC’s dedicated website
worldcreative.org.
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