Art is an insecure livelihood. It is not for nothing that one speaks of the art of breadlessness. But if you can, you can also make a living from it.

Carola Rümperer

The study does not prepare for the profession

Carola Rümperer has to make one thing clear right from the start: As an artist, you are creative at most 50 percent of the time. The other time is spent on networking and administrative activities. Rümper works as a visual artist in her own studio in Berlin-Marzahn. But it was not easy, she admits, that the way was not. Above all, the art studies that she completed in Osnabrück and Enschede did not adequately prepare her for self-employment as an artist. "

Art also comes from ability: someone who manages to make a living from their art must be particularly good, a special master. Perhaps that is why art is considered particularly desirable by many Job: Despite all prophecies of doom, one wants to prove to oneself that one has managed to make a living from art. But how do you actually do that?

Learning content in the study

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Im Study I mainly learned art styles and techniques. But I wasn't clearthat I will later work independently and what that means - for example dealing with insurance, legal and tax issues.

Or that I have to market myself and therefore approach people,” Carola laments her failures Vocational Training.

Law, taxes, marketing

After completing her studies, she first looked for a tax consultant and joined the trade union ver.di. They offer members legal advice and protection, among other things, when it comes to membership in the cheap artists' social insurance or Ask the pension insurance goes. Carola found it far more difficult to establish herself as an artist on the market.

“The most important thing as an artist is to stand out and stand out because the competition is fierce. This works by creating your own profile, repeatedly applying for grants, organizing exhibitions, having catalogs printed, making contacts and initiating your own projects. Of course, all this is very complex, takes time, Money – and it can take many years to get there Success has."

The Internet simplifies many things

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At first, Carola didn't even know how to start. She therefore first sought advice in artist magazines such as “Atelier”. Today with the Internet It's easier: The Federal Association of Visual Artists eV and the Association of Associations of Artists and Art Sponsors eV, for example, provide information on competitions, calls for applications and current events as well as numerous contact addresses on their websites.

Social networks such as Xing or Fac offer another way of getting information and exchanging ideasebook, which Carola finds too unspecific. The local contacts are much more important for the Berlin artist, for example with potential sponsors, local politicians or foundations that will be able to find out about the next project financing decide.

Create unique selling points

But also that Contact to other artists with whom Carola can exchange creative ideas is important. Carola therefore runs her studio together with a photographer. Her artistic unique selling point are the "Rümperiens", mythical creatures with black skin, which the artist has known since her childhood in the North German lowlands and is now reproducing.

An Idea, which has already helped her to numerous scholarships, including in Egypt and Russia. And she also got the current studio in Berlin-Marzahn as part of a funding program. If you want to take a look at her art: Carola Rümperer has put together a small catalog in PDF format here: Carola Rümper_Luxury of biodiversity 2011

Tedious bureaucracy

In order to do so, however, lengthy application processes are necessary, as state and municipal funds are very scarce in Berlin, which is why Carola has to write regular financing plans for some applications.

She is currently preparing a catalogue, the printing of which is subsidized by the cultural office; around Costs To save money, Carola will lay it out herself - which means that she also had to familiarize herself with software programs such as Photoshop.

Clean up with wrong ideas

“In the end, real work as an artist - creative in the studio - only takes up a maximum of 50 percent of everyday work. The rest of the time goes into bureaucracy, computer work, finding sponsors, organizing projects and maintaining contacts, ”

Carola Rümper clears up misconceptions. Even if Carola still for sure is that she has found her dream job in art, she advises young people People with artistic ambitions to reassess their career aspirations.

Subsistence or secure existence?

“As an artist you very often live close to the subsistence level. Therefore, you should consider early on how to secure yourself financially. And you should also think about family planning and retirement planning in good time.

Precisely because your own interests change again and again in the course of life, it can Sinn have, look after Alternatives look into similar jobs that might pay better.”


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