Most Artists Earn Low Salaries and Should Therefore Receive Funds From the Government- IELTS Writing Task 2

Most artists earn low salaries and should therefore receive funds from the government in order for them to continue with their work. To what extent do you agree?

Outline

Essay Type

Opinion essay

Introduction

Sentences 1&2 – The livelihood of an artist depends upon the skillful display of their talents and their mastery of the creative arts but they often struggle to make a fair living from it. This has invited discussion about whether or not artists should receive financial aid from the government which would enable them to keep performing their art.

Sentence 3 – Personally, I am of the opinion that the authorities ought to directly fund the artisans to allow them to freely pursue their craft and will state the reasons why it would be greatly beneficial.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Art is the primary source of income for many artists.

Paragraph 2 – Supporting artists financially would enable governments to preserve cultural traditions and heritage.

Paragraph 3 – The funding could be used to improve a country’s infrastructure and public services. The presence of non-profit organisations supporting artists also reduces the need for the government to support them financially.

Conclusion

Restate the view.

Sample Essay

An artist’s livelihood depends upon the skillful display of their talents and mastery of the creative arts, but they often struggle to make a modest living from it. This has invited discussion about whether or not artists should receive financial aid from the government, which would enable them to keep performing their art. Personally, I am of the opinion that the authorities ought to directly fund the artisans to allow them to pursue their craft voluntarily and I will state the reasons why it would be greatly beneficial.

Firstly, creative arts are the prime source of income for most artists. Throughout history, many luminaries, such as Vincent Van Gogh and John Keats, have been in dire straits financially, which culminated in tragically short creative lives. Had the government provided pecuniary aid, the world would have been blessed with more of their creative masterpieces. A notable example in this regard is Satyajit Ray, whose magnum opus, Panther Panchali, would probably never have seen the light of day had the government not stepped in and provided him with the funds he needed to complete his cinematic masterpiece.

Secondly, artists are the torchbearers when it comes to preserving a country or a region’s cultural heritage and traditions. By aiding artists financially, the government would also be helping to preserve the cultural legacy and historical customs, which maintain the cultural identity of any place. Lastly, by funding artists, the government would help create jobs and encourage other people to pursue art as their vocation. This would bring communities together by involving them in preserving the arts, nurturing their cultural consciousness, and continuing to capture the zeitgeist for years to come.

However, in opposition to the aforementioned views, government funding of the arts could be better utilised to strengthen the infrastructure of the country by investing in sectors such as healthcare, education, or social services. Furthermore, there are many non-profit organisations which work to provide funding to artisans and showcase their works which, some opine, reduces the necessity of government involvement.

In conclusion, the government ought to support creative pursuits by offering financial assistance to artists, which would enable them to stop worrying about sustenance and continue creating works of cultural significance. One can only hope that this strategy is adopted by governments across the world, which would enthuse more people to go into the arts and establish themselves as artists.

Vocabulary

• Livelihood

Meaning – source of income
Example – Teaching was her livelihood and she thoroughly enjoyed educating and shaping young minds.

• Prime

Meaning – primary or essential
Example – The prime source of motivation for him was self-interest.

• Luminary

Meaning – distinguished persons
Example – The literary meet was graced by a number of luminaries from the arts and was deemed a success.

• Dire straits

Meaning – in a desperate situation
Example – Hari was in dire straits financially and decided to seek help from his siblings.

• Pecuniary

Meaning – financial or monetary
Example – He denied betraying them for pecuniary advantage when questioned about it in court.

• Magnum opus

Meaning – most important work
Example – Paradise Lost is considered by all to be Milton’s magnum opus.

• Torchbearer

Meaning – a person at the forefront of a movement or organisation
Example – Martin Luther King was the torchbearer for the civil rights movement in 1960s America.

• Vocation

Meaning – one’s life’s work or calling
Example – He had finally found his vocation in writing poetry.

• Zeitgeist

Meaning – the spirit of the times
Example – His films perfectly depict the zeitgeist of Kolkata in the 1970s.

• Enthuse

Meaning – arouse or motivate
Example – Brutus’ speech failed to enthuse the Roman mob in the same way that Mark Antony’s had.