SNP pledges roll-out of ‘minimum income’ for Scotland’s artists

The idea, which will be piloted if the SNP returns to government, has backed by the party in the wake of pressure from union leaders and campaigners to support the idea of a “basic income” for artists to help ease financial pressures and remove barriers in the Scottish cultural sector.

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The Irish Government has just agreed to make a “basic income for the arts” scheme – which has seen 2000 artists and creative industries workers paid £283 a week – a permanent policy after a pilot project which ran for more than three years.

Under the Irish scheme’s eligibility rules, applicants must show evidence of a “professional artistic practice” which is mainly based in Ireland, which can include proof of previous funding, performances, commissioned work, credits for productions, media coverage and artistic residencies.

Visual artists are expected to be eligible of a minimum income for artists scheme goes ahead in Scotland. (Image: Campbell Donaldson / Ralia Media)

However there has been controversy over the latest plans for the “Basic Income for the Arts” in Ireland as the number of artists being supported for the next years is still capped at 2000. As with the Irish pilot, which more than 9000 artists applied for, successful applicants will be chosen from applicants who meet the criteria via an “anonymised random selection process”.

Last week Scottish Labour unveiled plans for a pilot project to support 1000 “creative entrepreneurs” with a new weekly payment.

SNP election campaign director Angus Robertson has set out the party’s plans to introduce a minimum income for artists scheme if it is back in government in Scotland. (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

However if Labour’s scheme is proposed to be targeted towards artists with “promising commercial plans” who would have to submit a business plan and put up some of their own money to secure the party’s proposed allowance.

The SNP’s proposals are expected to be largely based on the Irish model, which is open to anyone living in Ireland who can provide evidence of a previous career in the arts.

Cleo Goodman is co-founder of the Basic Income for Artists Scotland campaign. (Image: Colin Hattersley)

The SNP has not stated how many artists would be supported how much they would receive under its proposed pilot.

However SNP election campaign director Angus Robertson, the Scottish Government’s culture secretary in recent years, said: “Scottish artists are world renowned, but so many famous names from our creative past would simply have been unable to establish themselves without support.  

“The value of our culture is beyond measure, but our artists need backing and the platform to develop their craft and to allow them to take risks. 

“It is for that reason that our plan to pilot a Scottish artists minimum income scheme is so important to Scotland.

“We can learn from the experiences of Ireland to deliver targeted support and encourage a generation of artists to flourish. 

“The SNP is on the side of Scottish artists and standing shoulder to shoulder with our creative industry is all the more important with emerging political forces casting doubt on the value of supporting Scottish culture.

“This pilot will give emerging and establish talents the backing they need to thrive and I am proud the SNP will deliver it.”

Cleo Goodman, co-founder of the Basic Income for Artists Scotland campaign, told The Herald: “The SNP’s commitment to investing in the arts with a regular unconditional, cash payment made directly to artists is a massive step towards the financial security we must offer in our creative industries.

“It is right for us to look to replicate the success of the Irish Basic Income for the Arts, but the Scottish pilot must be developed in close consultation and collaboration with artists across the nation to make sure it truly meets their needs.

“Artists are contending with the increasing cost of living, demanding and oversubscribed grant application processes, lack of investment in creative community projects that have a crucial social impact and the loss of critical arts spaces.

“We’ve heard widespread support for a basic income for artists pilot from artists and arts organisations alike, we look forward to engaging constructively with the development of the detail of the pilot.”

Equity, the performing arts and entertainment union, has been calling for the introduction of a basic income for the arts in Scotland as part of its own Holyrood manifesto, arguing it would help retain talent in the sector, allow artists to dedicate more time to their creative careers and tackle “class privilege” in the arts.

Equity Scotland official Marlene Curran said: “A basic income for artists would transform the industry socially by removing the financial barriers to entry and be economically viable for Scotland. 

“Scotland has the opportunity to be the leading nation in the UK for having the most fair and sustainable creative industry.”