Making a living through and for visual arts in East Africa

The creative and cultural economy in East Africa is central to regional future growth. However, visual artists appear to lack the supporting institutions commonplace in the Global North and there is a lack of understanding concerning how they make a living. This chapter addresses this question, exploring data collected as part of an interdisciplinary research project. Through 21 interviews and action research with 60 participants in Kenya and Uganda, we explore how artists construct sustainable livelihoods both through and for art. We then recommend areas for future development.