This sector covers all art forms including painting, sculpture, photography and new media.
Due to government policy and social regeneration, a widening of the perception of public art has occurred. It is increasingly seen as a quality marker for the built environment, which also means that it does not fit comfortably within the traditional boundaries of the creative sector.
The pathways leading to careers in the Visual Arts are difficult to define and are either non-existent or overly complicated. There is an oversupply of courses, training providers and learners studying for a qualification, competing for very few jobs within the sector. The sector is poorly paid and unpaid volunteering is common. This has led to a highly qualified but low skilled (from a business perspective) workforce.