From November 15 - December 15, 2024, the Impact Studio hosted the anonymous journalistic series The Artist Pay Project, which examines how artists survive and thrive through anonymous money diaries.

Developed by 2022-2023 Knight-Wallace and Ford Center for Racial Justice Fellow Makeda Easter, the series is a visually-immersive, physical manifestation of interviews with over 30 artists from various disciplines — including visual arts, dance, film, and drag — to understand how much artists are paid for their work, how work is priced, and how artists feel about their overall financial security. Ultimately, it gives voice to the value of art in our society and advocates for higher wages for working artists.

The exhibition began with an opening reception on November 15. On December 5, 2024, the Impact Studio also hosted a panel titled “Making it: per$pectives on the business of creativity”.

Making it: $napshots from the Artist Pay Project was sponsored by the U-M Arts Initiative and the Impact Studio.

View photos of the opening reception on November 15 here, and photos from the panel event on December 15 here.