Spanish Women Artists and their Economic Activity: Precarious Work at Times of Crisis. Analysis and Comparison on the Basis of a Global Study

Abstract

This article describes the professional and economic activity of female Spanish artists, based on the results obtained in a study conducted by the authors nationwide with data provided by over 1,100 artists. It is the first in-depth analysis of the plastic and/or visual arts sector in Spain, their professional activity and economic and work circumstances, their relationship with art market agents and the historical evolution in recent decades. The group of female artists, comprising 52% of the total, has been identified, and their circumstances contextualized and analyzed in comparison with those of men and global data, within the current economic situation in Spain. In addition to describing general aspects of the artistic activity of women in Spain, and their relationship with the market, data are provided that reaffirm our hypothesis about the degree of precariousness and inequality suffered by Spanish female artists, exacerbated by their lower visibility in the art system.