Illustration 4: Income generation of Visual Artists in Berlin [N=644; due to overlaps, more than one
answer was possible.]
Income predominantly from art work
Income predominantly from side job __________________________
Supported by family ____________________________________
ALG Il _____________________________________________________
Scholarships E≡≡≡≡4_________________________________
Retirement pension Y∕∕∕∕∕∕∕∕∕∕∕Λ
Personal loan Y∕∕∕∕∕∕∕∕∕∕λ_____________________________________________________________
Employment in other field Y∕∕∕∕∕7∕/,
Patronage Y∕∕∕∕∕∕∕∖________________________________________________________________
Other promotion of employment Y∕∕∕∕∕∕λ
Unemployment benefits Y∕∕λ
Welfare
1€--Job gj
SAM/ABM g
I I I I I I I
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Source: Written survey 2006; own calculation.
3.8 Expenses of visual artists in Berlin
Rent
Visual artists can normally not afford to pay rents in line with current market trends.
Without consideration of the rent, it has been indicated on average that a studio size
of close to 60m2 is necessary. If the different average level of rent for such leases in
these districts is used as a basis15, then the desired size correlates only slightly with
the given willingness to pay a particular rent price (approx. 240.00 euro)16. Only 3
per cent of those, who specified the necessary studio size and amount that they are
willing to pay, would be able to pay the rent17 at their current work location. In
accordance with their indicated willingness to pay, the other artists would only be
able to pay a third of the normal rent for such leases18.
In the analysis carried out by DIW Berlin of a simultaneously executed survey of
visual artists on their admission into the Berlin Studio Programme, 70 per cent of the
surveyed indicated the ability to pay a rent of 4.09 euro per m2, all inclusive. Only 18
per cent could not pay this rent; 12 per cent see this rent as comparable to market
prices.
15CB Richard Ellis Office Space Market Report (Büromarktbericht) (2004)
16 Correlation coefficient R2=0,47.
17 Here the monthly total rent cost is meant.
18 Due to the different characteristics of quality in the furnishing of office space and the demands of
artists, it can be assumed that the district-specific average levels of rent are somewhat overestimated.
15