Contemporary art and hobby art - which criteria apply? Who determines how works are to be categorized? On the one hand, this text examines the changes in the role of the artist over the course of history. On the other hand, the aim is to assess the two areas of contemporary art and the voluntary arts in the present day. For many things, such as a sloppy concept of genius, stem from profound changes in the living conditions of artists in the 19th century.

The aim is to draw attention to the fact that the respective criteria are not to be understood hierarchically, but that contemporary art and voluntary arts, each with their own objectives and characteristics, exist peacefully side by side. Examples round off the explanations, ranging from a well-researched community in the English-speaking world to hobby art activities in the Austrian capital and a regional painting workshop in the district of Weiz.