Yet Burning Man has grown into a large-scale venue for new art. Well, I think you're right. The folks upstream have raised their dams. The old patronage system, like so many other hierarchies in American life, is breaking down.
Artists are perennial have-nots.
I don't think they can expect much in the future, but this may be a blessing in disguise. Because the old system doesn't work. Artists are trapped. Very little money goes directly to creators. Most grant funding goes to institutions.