Cold

It is also well known that many artists work in old, drafty buildings, where must be stoked considerably to get warm. Not payable. The first artists have already had to leave their studios for this reason. In combination with the dire shortage of studios in most cities in the Netherlands, makes this makes it exceptionally difficult for artists to practice their craft. This much we already knew, and as long as market forces are king, this is not likely to change. 

The first artists have already had to leave their studios for this reason

During the corona crisis, various allowances could be applied for by anyone who was in financial trouble because of that crisis. Admittedly was not too obvious for visual artists, but eventually there were a number of schemes that could be claimed. 

What about the energy supplement? Anyone with a low income can apply to the municipality for that allowance of thirteen hundred euros. There will be plenty of artists who can take advantage of this. But what about an energy allowance for a studio space where energy costs are skyrocketing? That seems out of the question, unless the artist in question has a entrepreneur who consumes more than five thousand cubic meters of gas or fifty thousand kilowatts of electricity annually and for whom at least 12.5 percent of sales consist of energy costs. I suspect there aren't any. 

It seems that eventually many visual artists will be forced to clear a space at home and work there

It seems that eventually many visual artists will be forced to clear a space at home and work there. For those who make small work, that may be quite possible (see artist column pg. 12), but how to with the artists who create large work and therefore need a large space? 

An 'entrepreneurial attitude' has been expected of artists for decades and in demand. Entrepreneurship is key. In that case, all visual artists would have to pass on their rising prices in fees for their work. Just like the plumber, the baker and the greengrocer. In setting their fees for work, they should consistently take into account take into account increased energy prices. And not only that, also with the increased prices of materials, travel costs, general inflation, et cetera. And "take into account" I mean literally: calculate it and add it up. 

When setting their fees for work, artists should take into account increased energy prices

However, one of the things I know about artists and their professional practice is that they work because they want to make, want to create. Few artists create art to get rich from it. Either way there is made, even when underpaid. To survive financially, it is high time for artists to work even harder at all the fair pay-pulling bells and not doing their job for next to nothing. After all, no one wants to sit out in the cold, even if it gets really cold soon.