Economic Sustainability and Creative Freedom among Youth in India: An Analytical Study

The dynamic between creative expression and financial survival is gaining heightened salience for young people trying to forge professional identities in artistic fields. While creative work is considered to be emotionally nourishing, it is difficult for most people to sustain long-term engagement in the arts without reliable streams of income, conducive environments, and a pragmatic understanding of money management. This paper explores the various ways in which youth in India negotiate the troubling friction between creative ambition and economic imperatives. Drawing from previously existing scholarly work and survey responses of over one hundred youths engaged in a variety of creative practices, the study analyses the impact of financial literacy, family expectations, personal motivation, and institutional support in determining creative careers. It concludes that artistic freedom is not sacrificed at the altar of financial planning; instead, creativity thrives when people have the economic means and social support to do what they love.