The art world galleries, museums and cultural institutions generally emphasize their commitment to openness, progressiveness and inclusiveness in the art community, the reality is a different story. Class plays a large role in determining whether or not someone will be represented, supported and valued as an artist.
From the admission process of art schools to the process by which individual artists are represented in galleries, the influence of money and one’s social background is discreetly interwoven into the fabric of opportunity. While there is a place for talent in the art world, access to the resources necessary to promote talent often determines whose talent is recognised.
For young artists, especially those with working-class backgrounds, the costs associated with materials and basic living expenses while pursuing a career in art can be prohibitive. Art is about creativity, but it takes inherent skill and creativity to be successful in the art world.
It can also be difficult for non-art practitioners to access the language of the art world as it is often exclusive. Theory-based, academic definitions, curatorial terms, and references to upper-class culture can all create obstacles that keep people out of the art world.
Class shapes art audiences. when someone experiences difficulty in seeing oneself represented at that location, they are not going to have any motivation or comfort with regards to entering these spaces as part of an artistic community.
Privilege Shapes Opportunity
The role of privilege in determining how artists develop their careers is crucial. Financially supported artists have the ability to take risks, to experiment, and to fail with little consequence. Privileged artists can live in “capital” cities, can attend prestigious schools, and therefore build the networks necessary to succeed professionally.
Artists who do not have the privileges listed above usually have to balance their creative efforts with jobs that are necessary for survival. They have limited amounts of time and resources that can be devoted to pursuing artistic endeavors.
If the arts value diversity, they need to provide all people within underrepresented groups the chance to be able to access arts programs. By doing this the arts will begin to build a more inclusive community.
The more middle-class, wealthy and lower-class individuals who are part of the arts, the more variety that will be shown through art. Supporting various social class perspectives in the arts does not diminish the quality of the artwork; instead it adds value to the arts and provides various new ways of creating art.
