Artists & finances

Artists & finances   Musa from Soweto, one of our regular callers spoke to us last night about the issue of artists and their financial struggles. Research was recently conducted on this on why some artist die in poverty.   Joining me is     Joseph Gaylard  Head - Pro Helvetia Johannesburg (they commissioned the research).         Why musicians die in poverty – South African study reveals battle to make ends meet https://theconversation.com/why-musicians-die-in-poverty-south-african-study-reveals-battle-to-make-ends-meet-231388      I head Pro Helvetia Johannesburg, the sub-Saharan office of the Swiss Arts Council, responsible for facilitating connection and collaboration between the Swiss arts scene and the regional arts ecosystem.   We commissioned the IKS research report that Gwen’s article hinges around on the basis of data that came out of an income relief fund that we set up with finance from a private foundation in Switzerland during COVID, which supported more than 700 jazz musicians across South Africa over a 6 to 12 month period with monthly income payments of between R5000 and R15000 per month, based on a simple assessment of needs.