How Artists Make Money (and How Money Shapes Art) with David Berry on the Moolala Podcast

Описание: Money and art have always had a complicated relationship. Creativity thrives on freedom, experimentation, and risk, while money often demands structure, stability, and compromise. So how do artists actually survive financially, and how does money shape the art they make?

In this episode of Moolala: Money Made Simple, Bruce Sellery speaks with writer, editor, and critic David Berry, author of How Artists Make Money & How Money Makes Artists. David explores the often uncomfortable but unavoidable tension between creative work and financial reality, drawing on history, research, and his own lived experience.

David explains why he felt compelled to write about the financial lives of artists and how researching this book deepened his respect for their perseverance. They discuss the unique money challenges artists face, from inconsistent income and lack of benefits to social pressure and internalized beliefs like “I’m bad with money” or “earning means selling out.”

The conversation also looks back at the long history of art and money, including the role of patrons and institutions in shaping what art gets made — and who gets to make it. David shares insights into how those systems are changing today, as traditional gatekeepers shift and artists navigate new markets, platforms, and funding models.

Whether you’re an artist, love someone who is, or simply want to understand the real economics behind creative work, this episode offers a thoughtful, honest look at how money shapes art and how artists keep going anyway.

Listen to more Moolala episodes:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Laaa1q...
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast...

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