Yours isn't the only industry with these problems. Our entire system is modern feudalism. It sucks.

My opinion is that its because while artist create, they ultimately sell something and do a very poor job on the business end of things.

Marketing, sales, operations etc etc are all things a artist needs to do in order to sell their product and create revenue. Im not saying the artist needs to become a business person, but rather partner or hire the right people to work with.

I know its a stereotype, but many artist are more driven by their art then making money which is why when compared to every other business they seem to struggle the most.

The "ruling class" is not as well-off as you think they are - they're living from (big) paycheque to (big) paycheque.

You're not allowed to complain about compassion for the arts in an overpriced city where 'artist housing' is a term.

Guess it's time to switch careers and join McDonalds, either that or move to Toronto. Perhaps you try exotic dancing? Pays better, the ruling audience will be captivated by your every move and hopefully it'll stop your whining!

I applaud you for doing what you do, art makes people's lives better.

Highly skilled and administrative role aren't two things I normally think belong together, but what do I know?

I do feel though that a good admin person is not highly skilled, no matter how good they are. And I am not saying they're worthless or anything.

And I struggle to see myself as highly skilled, yet as a systems administrator I can make computer systems do some fairly magical stuff; been at it for a looonnnngggg time.

*shrugs*

After all , isnt the scenery of mountains and ocean enough ?

lol.

Move to Portland , Austin , Montreal . It seems many other cities are more artist friendly than here.

I fear people will only really take notice when there are only construction workers to build the high rise condos and multi million dollar houses,the real estate agents to sell them and the rich foreigners to buy the homes, the bankers to help finance the new buildings , and the restaurant workers that feed them all.

Thats it in a nutshell.

With how oblivious and self absorbed most people in metro Van generally are when it comes to politics and activism , there is no need for the government to add flouride to the drinking water as the population is already sufficiently dumbed down.

we appreciate the arts but in life, one must be able to pay his/her own way. If you cannot make the arts work for you financially then its nobody else job to pay for you. Sounds like you are just a whinging for people to pay your way as an artist.

that is ridiculous. for advancement to come in any field it requires a commitment far beyond sunday painting or making art to please the masses. unfortunately yours is the majority view, so in vancouver the ones deciding what 'art' consists of are the real estate developers and their vapid whorish curators. in the end, it is the people robbed of seeing anything innovative.