A steady income for our artists
A year ago, Ireland launched an experiment: a basic income scheme for artists and creative workers. And it's proving successful: the 2,000 participants receiving the €1,400 monthly instalment spend more time working on, and invest more money in, their creative practice than the control group. They are also more likely to make ends meet by exclusively working in the arts sector and to finish new pieces.
The pilot programme kicked off in 2020 and aimed to support the arts and culture sector in adapting and recovering from the pandemic, tackling the industry’s systemic precariousness. Similar initiatives have been tested in other countries at city level or with private funding. Yet, other existing European national schemes remain selective: in France, unemployment benefits for performing artists are only awarded to those who have worked at least 507 hours a year, and Norwegian grants are conditioned to success in a selective process.
Instalments are not given to just anyone claiming to be creative: only recently trained artists or those proving active engagement, income from their work or membership from a representative organisation would benefit from the steady income.
Theories of universal income are often criticised by saying that public money could risk being used to fund idleness – the assumption being no one would work if they could. With the arts, however, the story is different: many artists would produce more if they had the money and/or time. Ireland is making the bet that it will actually enrich its arts scene by helping its creators achieve financial independence. In a sense, is it not investing in its future?