91% of people starting out in the arts have worked for free

Nine out of ten young people looking to start a career in the arts sector have worked for free, but for only 28% did such an opportunity lead to paid work, says a survey by IdeasTap, the online network for people starting out in the creative industries. But only 9% felt that the work did not benefit their career, 80% said that they gained valuable experience and almost three quarters said they would work for free again. However, a fifth of the 2,100 members surveyed said they felt exploited by the experience. IdeasTap has set up a ‘Uni Fee Fund’ competition,  the lucky winner of which will have £9,000 wiped off their Student Loans Company debt balance.