Why must artists be poor? | Hadi Eldebek

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: SF Huang

I come from a family of five brothers,

我家共有五兄弟，

all scientists and engineers.

都是科學家和工程師。

A few years ago, I sent them the following email:

幾年前，我寄了這封 電子郵件給他們：

"Dear brothers, I hope this message finds you well.

「親愛的兄弟們，希望你們 收到這個訊息時，一切安好。

I am emailing to let you know

我寫這封信是要讓你們知道，

that I'm dropping out of my master's program in engineering

我要放棄攻讀工程碩士學位，

to pursue a career as a full-time musician.

改當全職音樂家。

All that I ask from you is not to worry about me."

請你們不用擔心我。」

Brother number one replied.

兄弟一號回覆了。

He was encouraging but a bit skeptical.

他很鼓勵我，但有點懷疑。

He said, "I wish you the best of luck.

他說：「祝你好運。

You're going to need it."

你會需要的。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Brother number two was a little bit more skeptical.

兄弟二號又更懷疑了些。

He said, "Don't do it!

他說：「別這麼做！

This will be the worst mistake of your life.

這將會是你人生中最嚴重的錯誤。

Find a real career."

找個真正的職業吧。」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

Well, the rest of my brothers were so enthusiastic about my decision,

其他的兄弟對於我的決定，

感興趣到連回都不回。

they didn't even respond.

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I know that the skepticism coming from my brothers

我知道我兄弟們的懷疑

is out of care and concern for me.

是出於對我的關心和在乎。

They were worried.

他們會擔心。

They thought it would be difficult to make it as an artist,

他們認為，要當藝術家很難，

that it will be a challenge.

那會是個挑戰。

And you know what? They were right.

你們知道嗎？他們是對的。

It is such a challenge to be a full-time artist.

要當全職藝術家是個很大的挑戰。

I have so many friends who need to have a second job

我有好多朋友都需要有第二份工作，

as a plan B in order to pay for the bills,

當作支付帳單費用的 B 計畫，

except that plan B sometimes becomes their plan A.

不過有時候，B 計畫 會變成他們的 A 計畫。

And it's not just my friends and I who experience this.

不只有我的朋友和我 經歷到這種狀況。

The US Census Bureau states that only 10 percent of art school graduates

美國人口普查局指出， 藝術學校的畢業生只有一成

end up working as full-time artists.

成為全職的藝術家。

The other 90 percent, they change careers,

剩下的九成都轉換了跑道，

they work in marketing, sales, education and other fields.

他們改從事行銷、業務、 教育或其他領域。

But this is not news, right?

但這並非新聞，對吧？

We almost expect the artist to be a struggling artist.

我們幾乎都預期藝術家 一定會過得很辛苦。

But why should we expect that?

但我們為什麼會有這樣的預期？

I read an article in the "Huffington Post"

我在《哈芬登郵報》讀到一篇文章，

saying that four years ago, the European Union

文章寫說，歐盟在四年前

began the world's largest ever arts funding initiative.

發起了世界上最大的藝術資助計畫。

Creative Europe will give 2.4 billion dollars

創意歐洲計畫將會提供 24 億美元

to over 300,000 artists.

給超過 30 萬名藝術家。

In contrast, the US budget for our National Endowment for the Arts,

相對的，美國撥給 「國家藝術贊助基金會」的預算，

the largest single funder for the arts across the United States,

這是全美藝術最大的資助來源，

is merely 146 million dollars.

只有 1 億 4600 萬美元。

To put things into perspective,

全面來看，

the US budget for the military marching bands alone

美國光是撥給軍方軍樂隊的預算

is almost twice as much as the entire NEA.

幾乎就是撥給整個 國家藝術贊助基金會的兩倍了。

Another striking image comes from Brendan McMahon for the "Huffington Post,"

另外還有很引人注目的一點，來自 《哈芬登郵報》的布倫丹·麥馬漢，

saying that out of the one trillion dollar budget

他說在撥給軍方以及國防相關花費的

for military and defense-related spending,

一兆美元預算中，

if only 0.05 percent were allocated to the arts,

只要有 0.05% 能分配給藝術，

we would be able to pay for 20 full-time symphony orchestras

我們就能夠支付 20 個全職的交響樂團，

at 20 million dollars apiece,

每團 2,000 萬美元，

and give over 80,000 artists

還能給超過八萬名藝術家

an annual salary of 50,000 dollars each.

每人五萬美元的年薪。

If that's only 0.05 percent,

如果那只是 0.05%，

imagine what a full one percent could do.

想像一下整整 1% 能做多少。

Now, I know we live in a capitalist society,

我知道我們處在資本主義社會，

and profits matter a lot.

利潤是很重要的。

So let's look at it from a financial angle, shall we?

所以，咱們就從 財務的角度來探討吧。

The US nonprofit arts industry

美國的非營利藝術產業

generates more than 166 billion dollars in economic activity,

產出超過 1660 億美元的經濟活動，

it employs 5.7 million people

該產業僱用了 570 萬人，

and it returns 12.6 billion dollars

並給國家帶來了 126 億美元的

in tax revenue.

賦稅收入。

But this is only a financial angle, right?

但這只是財務面，對吧？

We all know that the arts is way more than just an economic value.

我們都知道藝術的價值 絕對不只是經濟價值。

The arts brings meaning to life.

藝術帶給人生意義。

It's the spirit of our culture.

它是我們文化的精神。

It brings people together and it supports creativity

它讓人團結在一起，它支持創意

and social cohesion.

以及社會的凝聚力。

But if the arts contributes this much to our economy,

但如果藝術對我們的 經濟有這麼多貢獻，

why then do we still invest so little in arts and artists?

為什麼我們仍然對藝術 和藝術家投資這麼少？

Why do more than 80 percent of our schools nationwide

為什麼全國仍然有超過八成的學校

still experience budget cuts in arts education programs?

藝術教育計畫的預算會被刪減？

What is it about the value of arts and artists

藝術和藝術家的價值，到底有什麼

that we still don't understand?

是我們仍然不了解的？

I believe the system is flawed and far from being fair,

我相信體制有瑕疵， 而且一點也不公平，

and I want to help change that.

我想要協助改變這個狀況。

I want to live in a society

我希望我們居住的社會

where artists are more valued

能更重視藝術家，

and have more cultural and financial support

提供更多文化和財務上的支持，

so they can focus on creating arts instead of being forced to drive Ubers

讓他們能夠專心去創作藝術， 而不是被迫要去開優步（Uber）

or take corporate jobs they'd rather not have.

或在企業做他們並不想做的工作。

There are other sources of income for artists, however.

然而，藝術家還有其他的收入來源。

There are private foundations,

有私人的基金會、

grants and patrons who give money,

補助金以及經費的贊助者，

except a vast majority of artists don't know about these opportunities.

不過，大部分的藝術家 並不知道有這些機會。

On one side you have institutions and people with money.

在一邊，是能提供資金的機構和人。

On the other side you have artists seeking funding,

在另一邊，是在尋找資助的藝術家，

but the artists don't know about the people with the money,

但藝術家不認識 可以提供資金的那些人，

and the people with the money don't necessarily know

而可提供資金的那些人不見得知道

about the artists out there.

外頭有那些藝術家。

This is why I am very excited to share "Grantpa,"

這就是為什麼我很高興 能來分享「Grantpa」，

an online platform that uses technology

這是個線上平台，

使用科技來將藝術家和補助金 及資助機會做配對，

to match artists with grants and funding opportunities

in a way that is easy, fast and less intimidating.

做法很簡單快速，不會讓人怯步。

Grantpa is only one step towards solving an existing problem

Grantpa 只是朝向解決既有的

資金不平等問題邁進一步，

of funding inequality,

but we need to work collectively on multiple fronts

但我們需要在各戰線一起努力，

to reevaluate how we view the artists in our society.

來重新評估我們如何看待 社會中的藝術家。

Do we think of arts as a luxury or a necessity?

我們把藝術當作是奢侈品或必需品？

Do we understand what goes on in the day-to-day life of an artist,

我們是否了解藝術家 每天的日常是怎樣的？

or do we still believe that artists, no matter how struggling they are,

或者我們仍然相信， 藝術家不論過得多辛苦

are happy simply because they're following their passion?

都還是很快樂，只因為 他們在追求自己的熱情？

In a few years, I plan to send my brothers the following email:

我計畫要在幾年後寄 這封電子郵件給我的兄弟：

"Dear brothers, I hope this message finds you well.

「親愛的兄弟們，希望你們 收到這個訊息時，一切安好。

I am emailing to let you know that I am doing great

我寫這封信是要讓 你們知道，我很好，

and so are hundreds of thousands of artists

其他數十萬名藝術家也都很好，

who are being valued more culturally and financially

他們現在不論在文化上 或財務上都更受重視，

and getting enough funding to focus on their crafts

有足夠的資金，讓他們能 專注在自己的職業上，

and create more art.

創作更多的藝術。

I appreciate all of your support.

我感謝你們所有的支持。

Couldn't have done it without you."

沒有你們，我是辦不到的。」

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）