“They have spent their lives enriching our culture, yet they now struggle to survive”

Every winter, we conduct a survey of senior artists who receive support through our Sustenance Program. Brittany Anderson (MSW, LCSW), Artist Services Coordinator, reflects on our 2024 survey results – and what they tell us about the challenges our artists face on a daily basis.

“As a social worker, I have had the privilege of working with artists who have spent their lives bringing beauty and meaning into the world. Now, in their later years, many of them face a different kind of struggle—one of survival. Within the Music Maker community, I have seen firsthand the immense financial hardships these artists endure, struggling simply to afford basic necessities. I think of one artist who spent decades bringing joy through her music. Now, in retirement, her only income is Social Security. She receives $1,500 a month, but her rent alone is $1,400, leaving just $100 for food, medication, and other essentials. Another artist lives on just $950 a month, with $750 going toward rent—barely enough left to cover groceries, let alone utilities or unexpected expenses. Despite their talent and lifelong contributions, these artists now find themselves in a constant state of financial uncertainty, forced to make impossible choices just to get by.

“For 95.5% of the artists we serve, Social Security is their sole source of income, averaging just $956 per month. Yet, despite living below the poverty level, only 31% qualify for food stamps, even though 81.8% have experienced food insecurity in the past year. Additionally, 82% of our artists report that their monthly expenses exceed their income, often by at least $300, forcing almost half to skip or partially pay bills just to keep their utilities from being shut off. These are individuals who have spent their lives enriching our culture, yet they are now struggling to survive.

“Still, there have been small but meaningful improvements. Today, 100% of the artists in our community have health insurance—a significant step forward from previous years. However, financial insecurity remains a constant challenge. These artists, who once created without limits, now live within the tight constraints of a fixed income, finding ways to adapt, survive, and hold on to their dignity in a system that often overlooks them. Many live in a delicate balance, where one unexpected expense—an illness, a rent increase, a home repair—can upend everything. They juggle bills, ration groceries, and stretch what little they have just to make it through the month. Despite these struggles, their resilience is remarkable as they continue navigating the challenges of aging with an income that simply does not keep up with the rising cost of living.”

– Brittany Anderson, MSW, LCSW, Artist Services Coordinator

This winter, Music Maker conducted our Annual Artist Survey of senior musicians receiving our ongoing support. There was a mix of good news and continuing challenges, as is often the case.

We are pleased to report that artists have made some positive progress on food insecurity. Although folks do seem to cut portions from time to time, our artists are getting through each month with enough food. Another bright spot was health insurance. All of the artists surveyed this year had health insurance coverage. Most are covered by Medicare, and 86% were able to cover the copays for their doctors’ visits without difficulty. While 73% of artists reported their health to be “Average” or better, 50% have mobility issues.

Dental care remains an area of great difficulty, with 46% of artists responding that they have untreated dental issues; most have dentures or partials that need work.

The elephant in the room is that poverty just does not quit. The average annual income was $17,586 ($1,466/month), with the mean annual income coming in at $13,300 ($1,150/month). Expenses exceeded income within the last 90 days for 82% of the artists surveyed.

Every artist surveyed (100%) reported that the monthly and emergency grants that Music Maker sends to them are “extremely important” to their well-being. Virtually all rely on Social Security as their primary source of income. Any interruption or reduction in federal, state, or local social services and funding would have a devastating impact on this vulnerable group of people.

Your support means a great deal to our artists and makes an enormous difference to their lives. Please consider joining our Listener’s Circle or starting a recurring donation of $25/month. Together, we can keep the music playing – today and for generations to come.