Creative New Zealand has published findings from the first comprehensive survey of artists in New Zealand in Portrait of the Artist/Te whakaahua o te Tangata pokenga. Creative New Zealand has published findings from the first comprehensive survey of artists in New Zealand in Portrait of the Artist/Te whakaahua o te Tangata pokenga.The 86-page report is based on a survey of 1010 professional practising artists in New Zealand, drawn from a database of more than 9,000 artists.

Research for this major survey began in 1999 when Creative New Zealand recognised the lack of detailed information available about the living and working conditions of professional artists in New Zealand.

The report includes three main sections that cover:
-how artists became artists and the influence of family, schools and mentors
-artists' employment arrangements, how artists spend their time and how much they earn
-business-related topics, including obtaining and promoting work, and running a business.

The 1010 artists were surveyed about a wide range of topics, including: early interest in the arts, career paths, education and training, business skills, professional development, international experience, marketing and promotion of their work, income and expenditure.

Creative New Zealand Chief Executive Elizabeth Kerr says the data has been invaluable.

"In undertaking this research, Creative New Zealand's priority was to use these findings in our strategic planning and advocacy work. This research also has significant ongoing value and will provide baseline data for future studies that arts organisations, tertiary institutions and government agencies might undertake."

The findings of the survey paint a picture of New Zealand artists in a changing world as they deal with the challenges of self-employment, entrepreneurism and the impact of new technologies. Of the artists surveyed, 70% were either self-employed or freelance, compared to 13% of the New Zealand labour force at the time of the survey (Statistics New Zealand). For the artists who completed the income and expenditure survey the median income was $20,700 compared to a median income of $27,934 for all New Zealanders in paid employment in the year ended June 1999 (Statistics New Zealand).