The Starving Artist Myth

Creative sector jobs are driving our economy and offer a viable career path for today's youth.



Careers and business opportunities in creative industries offer flexibility, variety, and security. Why then do people hesitate to go into them? A belief in the myth of the starving artist, which conjures images of penniless writers and artistic bohemians, is to blame. The myth leads many away from choosing a path they would love in favour of more traditional fields. Years later, they may come to regret that choice.

Mark J. Jones shows that the persistent stereotype of the starving artist is not just costing youth and working-aged people the opportunity to explore satisfying careers, it could also cost Canada’s economy in lost opportunities. Through education and entrepreneurial strategy, artists, musicians, writers, media makers, designers, actors, and others can come to understand how to reach audiences and customers in a global market.

In The Starving Artist Myth, Jones erases any remaining doubt about the opportunities in the creative economy by getting at the origin of the starving artist stereotype, demonstrating the economic resiliency of the sector, and delving into the strategies for achieving career success.