Can the arts industry revive its appetite for risk? And are the visual arts a gig economy?

Whatever their medium, artists deal with sensitive topics, often taking a critical, anti-establishment approach. But at the moment, some artists are finding that their art, and their opinions, can see them shut out of the business. Leading arts figure Louise Adler discusses what arts organisations and leaders should do to protect the independence of the arts, and the impact that changes to boards and funding have had on their preparedness to take a risk.And a new report compares the jobs of the visual arts industry to the gig economy, with low wages, high levels of unpaid work, and a significant gender pay gap. Professor Grace McQuilten and Madeleine Thornton-Smith take us into the galleries and explore whether an art market with stable employment is a possibility.Our track of the week is Young Americans by David BowieStories mentioned in the headlines:Russell Brand charged with rape and sexual assaultAdditional charges laid against Sean (Diddy) CombsSundance Film Festival moving to Boulder, ColoradoThe Stella Prize shortlist is announcedThe NGA makes its biggest acquisition of the 2st Century, a work by Edvard Munch