Australia should have a universal basic income for artists. Here’s what that could look like

Tue, 24 May 2022 19:17:35 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/australia-should-have-a-universal-basic-income-for-artists-heres-what-that-could-look-like-182128>

"While artists struggle to get noticed in the Australian political arena,
particularly in the lead up to an election, other nations take their artists
more seriously – even seeing them as critical to a successful and vibrant
community.

When I talked to artists during the pandemic, it became evident they needed
four conditions in place to be able to practice successfully as artists: a
regular income, a place to do their work, capacity to do their work and
validation of their work.

Without these conditions, productivity and mental health suffer.

The Republic of Ireland has recently instituted a new scheme to provide
three-year support for up to 2,000 individual artists, piloting a form of
universal basic income.

Artists will be expected to meet at least two out of three qualifying terms to
apply for the scheme: have earned an income from the arts, have an existing
body of work and/or be members of a recognised arts body, such as a trade
union.

Successful artists and creative workers will be given a weekly income of €325
(A$479), and be able to earn additional money without this basic income being
affected.

The Irish Minister for the Arts Catherine Martin hopes this first model can be
broadened to include all practising Irish artists in the future.

She sees it as a simple and economic method to protect artists from precarious
existences while benefiting the community as whole."

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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