It’s Not a Job! Considering the Internal and External Conditions of Emerging Visual Artists’ Labor, Education and Personal Establishment in the Current International Art Market.

Dr. Nina Dimitriadou Yassin, a practicing visual artist and researcher of the sociology of visual artists, will present evidence from her lifelong research exploring why the practice of novice visual artists cannot be considered a straightforward profession, rather than a vocation or lifestyle. She will advocate for structural changes and policy revisions from international state policy makers and stakeholders in the visual arts to mitigate risks and abuse in visual art careers for future generations. Moreover, Dr. Yassin will demonstrate that the artist’s personal motivation and decision-making does not alone suffice to improve their work-life conditions. With an ever increasing number of graduate programs in visual arts that are in turn producing more artists, artists are further challenged in building a life supported by their professional practice as self-employed visual artists.