Study: Individuals from Wealthy Families More Likely to Become Artists

Sketch” by Newtown grafitti licensed under CC BY 2.0

Source: Art Net

According to a new analysis on U.S. data, those who come from wealthy families are more likely to become artists than those who grow up with an economic disadvantage.

The study entitled “The Origins of Creativity: The Case of the Arts in the United States Since 1850,” provides an in-depth analysis on U.S. Census data dating back to 1850 on people in the U.S. who identify as artists, musicians and other creatives.

Researchers ultimately found that individuals were more likely to launch into an artistic career if they were wealthier. For every additional $10,000 in income, individuals were 2 percent more likely to become artists. This could be a result of being able to take more risks because there is more money in the family, as data also indicates that artists make less money than people in other fields.

Though women were more likely than men to be in the arts, minorities still make up a small percentage of artists all across the board, which researchers point to as an outcome of black and Latino families having lower median incomes than white families.

Read Full Story: Art Net

Arts Media & Culture, News
Arts, Media & Culture, News