This Might Be An Alternative For Struggling Musicians

The days of a struggling musician would be a thing of the past if it were up to the Australian Greens Party as they have called for a living wage for artists, to assist with costs such as rent.

As The Age reports, Greens Arts spokesman Adam Bandt made the election promise in Melbourne yesterday.

"By its nature the work of an artist is pretty precarious and few artists are able to make a sustainable living from their art alone," Bandt said.

A recent study found that more than 20% of Australian artists live under the poverty line, which includes those who work second jobs. 

"The majority of artists – they've been living hand to mouth for most of their working lives," Bandt continued.

"With rising housing costs, including city areas where artists would have lived, that's making it difficult as well."

Bandt has argued that Centrelink, which assesses a person's employability before giving payments, should expand to activities that many artists have to do to hone their craft, which includes unpaid work or gigs.

Artists would still be subject to Centrelink income tests under the proposed changes. 

The Greens are also calling for artists to receive a form of payment if their work is exhibited in public galleries. 

"I was astonished...when I found out that institutions would be exhibiting artists' work without paying them a fee," Bandt said.

"The government needs to step in and help institutions pay artists a decent fee."