Roles and tasks of visual artists
What job titles are used in the visual arts field, and in what roles and tasks do people work?
by: Hanna Hannus, Head of Communication at Artists’ Association of Finland
Visual artists’ practice
Visual arts encompass various disciplines such as painting, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, photography, media art, video art, environmental art, conceptual art and light art. In addition, sound art and performance art are often included in the field of visual arts. Many visual artists work by combining different forms of expression and techniques.
Most visual artists work as independent or self-employed professionals. 
A visual artist’s income typically comes from multiple sources: artistic activities (art sales, grants, commissioned works, performance fees, wages and other remuneration), other art-related work (e.g. teaching in art schools and folk high schools) and work unrelated to artistic practice. Income can also be generated from copyright royalties.
Applying your expertise
In Finland, there are relatively few structures or organisations that directly employ visual artists. In recent years, some artists have been hired under employment contracts as summer artists or municipal artists, for example. These roles are often related to promoting cultural well-being or community engagement. In the context of exhibitions, employment relationships are still rare.
Visual artists can also apply their methods in various contexts such as in community art or commissioned projects. They may collaborate with professionals or organisations from other sectors, including science, and act as creative work experts in workplaces or municipalities. Artists can also engage supporters through donations or commissions. Some visual artists generate income by sharing their creative processes online through subscription-based platforms.
Income models for visual artists
You can find information about different ways of organising an artist’s work on the Finnish Artists’ Association website under the section Making a living as a visual artist. The choice of working model depends on the artist’s primary sources of income. In Finland, the alternatives include working with a tax card, operating as a private entrepreneur, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or cooperative. An artist can work as a salaried employee, self-employed professional or entrepreneur.
Around one in three visual artists in Finland have a business ID (Y-tunnus). However, for only around one in ten, income from their own business is the primary source of income.
As many as 96% of practising visual artists have completed a professional qualification in their field.
