A new wave of research shows that UK artists are facing severe financial pressure, with around one in three unsure they will still be practising within five years. Rising living costs, limited public funding, and inconsistent sales are creating a crisis for creative professionals. This article explores the key challenges and explains how LettsArt, the no-code Art Intelligence software for artists and gallerists, offers a sustainable way forward.
Recent studies from UK arts organisations reveal an increasingly fragile landscape for working artists. Around 33% of artists say they are unsure they can continue professionally , citing:
This isn’t just an economic issue, it’s a cultural one. When artists can’t afford to stay in the profession, entire creative voices disappear. That weakens the future of the UK’s cultural ecosystem.
Most artists rely on irregular sales, gallery opportunities or grants. In a cost-of-living crisis, this volatility becomes unsustainable.
Traditional galleries represent a tiny minority of working artists. The rest are left dependent on social media algorithms, marketplace competition, and unpredictable visibility.
3. Rising costs without rising prices
Studio rent, framing, canvases, shipping and materials have gone up by double-digit percentages. But collectors’ purchasing hasn’t risen in the same way.
Industry groups are calling for direct government support because existing funding models aren’t meeting demand.
These pressures are converging - forcing artists to question whether they can afford to continue.
LettsArt was built specifically to counter these pressures. It empowers artists and gallerists to take control of their careers using no-code Art Intelligence software . Here’s how:
LettsArt removes the middlemen. Artists and gallerists get:
This shift from intermediated to direct income can dramatically improve long-term earning potential.
Using LettsArt, artists can:
More visibility = more opportunities = more revenue.
Traditional website-building is expensive and time-consuming. LettsArt removes the complexity by giving artists:
This is crucial for artists who can’t afford agency fees or developer time.
LettsArt isn't a marketplace - it's software. That means:
In an industry where power imbalances and digital noise are growing, this independence is everything.
If one in three artists is considering leaving the profession, the UK risks losing:
LettsArt helps reverse this trend by giving artists tools to build a stable, scalable, sustainable practice without needing a gallery contract or a tech background.
The UK art world is at a tipping point. We can either watch a generation of artists step away or we can equip them with the tools to build resilient, independent careers.
LettsArt was created for this exact moment.
If you're an artist or gallerist navigating uncertainty, now is the time to take control, build your audience and future-proof your practice with Art Intelligence.
👉 Start your free LettsArt gallery today and take back your creative freedom.
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Not using LettsArt? Why not sign up today? It’s powerful software for artists to show, manage and distribute their art online. Perfect for artists with zero tech skills, our no-code, AI software lets you take control of your online presence and build sustainable success through direct sales.
To sign up to LettsArt (it’s FREE!) go to www.LettsArt.com .
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Because of unstable income, rising costs, limited institutional support, and a broken gallery model.
By offering no-code Art Intelligence software that gives artists a direct-to-collector gallery, better visibility, lower commissions and powerful AI tools.
No. LettsArt is software that gives artists and gallerists full control over their own branded gallery.
Yes - by eliminating middlemen, reducing admin, improving visibility and helping creators build recurring collector relationships.
