This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether or the government should support artists from the real IELTS exam.

It’s a really strange question, to be honest! Read below to see how I handled it….

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Dave

IELTS Essay: Government Support for Artists

Some people think that governments should give financial support to creative artists such as painters and musicians. Others believe that artists should be funded by alternative sources.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many believe that artists are entitled to federal financial assistance, while others feel that they should seek different sources of revenue. In my opinion, in certain cases government aid is justified but for the majority, supplying their own income is a catalyst to create quality artwork.

Proponents of this policy argue that it can free artists to be more creative. If an artist is concerned about paying their rent and buying groceries, they will have less time and energy to dedicate to their artwork. Even more importantly, financial considerations will influence their work. Many painters, writers, and musicians are more likely to produce commercially viable artworks rather than artistically honest ones. There have been numerous examples in the past, such as during the Renaissance when painters, sculptors and architects received patronage from the government or wealthy citizens and artistic expression flourished. However, these instances are distant exceptions and most artists now operate in commercial fields.

The main reason this reform is unnecessary is that artists derive benefits from independence. An artist who must sell his or her artworks is motivated to strive for greater works. For example, an artist may begin creating specialized artworks and fail to find an audience. They might then modify their approach and still maintain a high degree of artistic integrity. This interplay with market forces can result in a better product. Noteworthy examples of this include the boom of the film industry in the twentieth century, the rise of stand-up comedians recently, and great works of literature that find large audiences such as the Harry Potter franchise.

In conclusion, despite notable instances of the success of government assistance, artists benefit from self-reliance. This will of course require them to carefully balance artistic and commercial considerations.

Analysis

1. Many believe that artists are entitled to federal financial assistance, while others feel that they should seek different sources of revenue. 2. In my opinion, in certain cases government aid is justified but for the majority, supplying their own income is a catalyst to create quality artwork.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Proponents of this policy argue that it can free artists to be more creative. 2. If an artist is concerned about paying their rent and buying groceries, they will have less time and energy to dedicate to their artwork. 3. Even more importantly, financial considerations will influence their work. 4. Many painters, writers, and musicians are more likely to produce commercially viable artworks rather than artistically honest ones. 5. There have been numerous examples in the past, such as during the Renaissance when painters, sculptors and architects received patronage from the government or wealthy citizens and artistic expression flourished. 6. However, these instances are distant exceptions and most artists now operate in commercial fields.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Extend with some long sentences as well.
6. Finish this main idea.

1. The main reason this reform is unnecessary is that artists derive benefits from independence. 2. An artist who must sell his or her artworks is motivated to strive for greater works. 3. For example, an artist may begin creating specialized artworks and fail to find an audience. 4. They might then modify their approach and still maintain a high degree of artistic integrity. 5. This interplay with market forces can result in a better product. 6. Noteworthy examples of this include the boom of the film industry in the twentieth century, the rise of stand-up comedians recently, and great works of literature that find large audiences such as the Harry Potter franchise.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Continue developing it…
5. as fully as possible!
6. This paragraph can be longer.

1. In conclusion, despite notable instances of the success of government assistance, artists benefit from self-reliance. 2. This will of course require them to carefully balance artistic and commercial considerations.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Many believe that artists are entitled to federal financial assistance, while others feel that they should seek different sources of revenue. In my opinion, in certain cases government aid is justified but for the majority, supplying their own income is a catalyst to create quality artwork.

Proponents of this policy argue that it can free artists to be more creative. If an artist is concerned about paying their rent and buying groceries, they will have less time and energy to dedicate to their artwork. Even more importantly, financial considerations will influence their work. Many painters, writers, and musicians are more likely to produce commercially viable artworks rather than artistically honest ones. There have been numerous examples in the past, such as during the Renaissance when painters, sculptors and architects received patronage from the government or wealthy citizens and artistic expression flourished. However, these instances are distant exceptions and most artists now operate in commercial fields.

The main reason this reform is unnecessary is that artists derive benefits from independence. An artist who must sell his or her artworks is motivated to strive for greater works. For example, an artist may begin creating specialized artworks and fail to find an audience. They might then modify their approach and still maintain a high degree of artistic integrity. This interplay with market forces can result in a better product. Noteworthy examples of this include the boom of the film industry in the twentieth century, the rise of stand-up comedians recently, and great works of literature that find large audiences such as the Harry Potter franchise.

In conclusion, despite notable instances of the success of government assistance, artists benefit from self-reliance. This will of course require them to carefully balance artistic and commercial considerations.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

entitled deserve it

federal financial assistance government money

seek look for

sources of revenue ways of making money

in certain cases sometimes

government aid money from the federal government

justified should be this way

majority most of

supplying giving

income money

catalyst source of

create quality artwork good works of art

proponents supporters

policy argue change claim

free artists allow artists

concerned worried about

paying their rent affording housing

buying groceries shop for food

dedicate focus fully on

even more importantly much more crucial is

financial considerations monetary factors

influence effect

produce commercially viable artworks make art that can be sold

rather than instead of

honest truthful

numerous examples many instances

during while

Renaissance period in Europe when art and science flourished

sculptors people who make statues

architects received patronage designers of buildings got money

artistic expression flourished art was really good

instances examples

distant exceptions long time ago instances

operate work

commercial fields in jobs

unnecessary not needed

derive benefits get advantages

independence on their own

strive try hard for

specialized artworks niche art

fail can’t do

audience people who watch/listen/read

modify change

approach method

maintain keep up

high degree of artistic integrity honest works of art

interplay relationship

market forces how economies work

result in causes

noteworthy examples big instances

boom increase

film industry movies

twentieth century 1900 – 2000

stand-up comedians funny people

great works of literature famous books

find large audiences locate your fans

franchise multiple editions

notable instances famous examples

self-reliance independence

carefully balance artistic thoughtfully weigh

commercial business/economic

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ɪnˈtaɪtld 
ˈfɛdərəl faɪˈnænʃəl əˈsɪstəns
siːk 
ˈsɔːsɪz ɒv ˈrɛvɪnjuː
ɪn ˈsɜːtn ˈkeɪsɪz 
ˈgʌvnmənt eɪd 
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪd 
məˈʤɒrɪti
səˈplaɪɪŋ 
ˈɪnkʌm 
ˈkætəlɪst 
kri(ː)ˈeɪt ˈkwɒlɪti ˈɑːtˌwɜːk
prəˈpəʊnənts 
ˈpɒlɪsi ˈɑːgjuː 
friː ˈɑːtɪsts 
kənˈsɜːnd 
ˈpeɪɪŋ ðeə rɛnt 
ˈbaɪɪŋ ˈgrəʊsəriz
ˈdɛdɪkeɪt 
ˈiːvən mɔːr ɪmˈpɔːtəntli
faɪˈnænʃəl kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃənz 
ˈɪnflʊəns 
ˈprɒdjuːs kəˈmɜːʃəli ˈvaɪəbl ˈɑːtˌwɜːks 
ˈrɑːðə ðæn 
ˈɒnɪst 
ˈnjuːmərəs ɪgˈzɑːmplz 
ˈdjʊərɪŋ 
rəˈneɪsəns 
ˈskʌlptəz 
ˈɑːkɪtɛkts rɪˈsiːvd ˈpætrənɪʤ 
ɑːˈtɪstɪk ɪksˈprɛʃən ˈflʌrɪʃt
ˈɪnstənsɪz 
ˈdɪstənt ɪkˈsɛpʃənz 
ˈɒpəreɪt 
kəˈmɜːʃəl fiːldz
ʌnˈnɛsɪsəri 
dɪˈraɪv ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns
straɪv 
ˈspɛʃəlaɪzd ˈɑːtˌwɜːks 
feɪl 
ˈɔːdiəns
ˈmɒdɪfaɪ 
əˈprəʊʧ 
meɪnˈteɪn 
haɪ dɪˈgriː ɒv ɑːˈtɪstɪk ɪnˈtɛgrɪti
ˈɪntə(ː)pleɪ 
ˈmɑːkɪt ˈfɔːsɪz 
rɪˈzʌlt ɪn 
ˈnəʊtˌwɜːði ɪgˈzɑːmplz 
buːm 
fɪlm ˈɪndəstri 
ˈtwɛntɪəθ ˈsɛnʧʊri
ˈstændʌp kəˈmiːdiənz 
greɪt wɜːks ɒv ˈlɪtərɪʧə 
faɪnd lɑːʤ ˈɔːdiənsɪz 
ˈfrænʧaɪz
ˈnəʊtəbl ˈɪnstənsɪz 
sɛlf-rɪˈlaɪəns
ˈkeəfli ˈbæləns ɑːˈtɪstɪk 
kəˈmɜːʃəl 

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Many believe that artists are e_________d to f________________________e, while others feel that they should s_____k different s_________________e. In my opinion, i_______________s g________________d is j___________d but for the m__________y, s____________g their own i_________e is a c__________t to c_________________k.

P______________s of this p______________e that it can f___________s to be more creative. If an artist is c__________d about p______________t and b_____________s, they will have less time and energy to d__________e to their artwork. E_______________________y, f_________________________s will i___________e their work. Many painters, writers, and musicians are more likely to p________________________________s r_____________n artistically h________t ones. There have been n_______________s in the past, such as d____________g the R_______________e when painters, s__________s and a___________________________e from the government or wealthy citizens and a_____________________________d. However, these i______________s are d_____________________s and most artists now o___________e in c_________________s.

The main reason this reform is u_________________y is that artists d_________________s from i__________________e. An artist who must sell his or her artworks is motivated to s_________e for greater works. For example, an artist may begin creating s__________________s and f_____l to find an a____________e. They might then m___________y their a____________h and still m____________n a h__________________________y. This i__________y with m_________________s can r__________n a better product. N___________________s of this include the b______m of the f_________________y in the t_________________y, the rise of s_____________________s recently, and g__________________________e that f__________________s such as the Harry Potter f___________e.

In conclusion, despite n__________________s of the success of government assistance, artists benefit from s_____________e. This will of course require them to c_______________________c and c______________l considerations.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/art-for-change-artists-canvas-becomes-the-medium-to-highlight-issues-and-make-sense-of-the-pandemic/2314961/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Art

1. Have you ever been to an art gallery?
2. Would you like to learn more about art?
3. Do you hang any art in your home?
4. Do people in your country enjoy making art?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some think that quality art can be made by anyone while others think that it requires special talent and ability.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Artistic Talent (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)