Cultural Labour and Livelihoods: A Socio-Economic Analysis of Kathakali Artists in Kerala

The cultural sector, globally, has gained recognition as a legitimate component of the development agenda, contributing to economic growth, social inclusion, and cultural diversity. However, integrating the arts within development frameworks continues to face conceptual and policy tensions. Within the broader spectrum of artistic livelihoods, performing artists occupy a particularly vulnerable position. Their economic realities are influenced by early socialisation, motivational orientations, and a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, though the role of personality traits remains uncertain. The present study attempts to evaluate the socio-economic conditions of the Kathakali artists of Kerala, India, through a custom-made survey. There is strong gender-based (r = − 0.92, p < .001) and rural–urban disparities in income (r = 0.52, p < .001) and access to training. Multiple regression confirmed that factors such as location, years of training, and occupation significantly influenced monthly earnings, indicating persistent livelihood precarity among Kathakali artists.