“Universal basic income (UBI) pilot programs launched in Hudson and Ulster County this year, and now the movement to guarantee monthly payments to residents has taken a creative turn, with a new foundation-funded program to support 2,700 artists in New York State starting in 2022,” writes Cloey Callahan in the December 22 Times Union (Albany, NY). “Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) is a new initiative that will provide monthly, no-strings-attached payments—similar to other UBI programs—for up to 2,400 artists with financial need. A second component of the program will fund and facilitate employment for 300 artists at dozens of small-to-mid-size community arts organizations statewide. The program is intended to revitalize the arts sector in New York, which has been badly hurt by the pandemic…. San Francisco implemented a UBI pilot program for artists last October in which 130 artists now receive $1,000 in monthly stipends…. CRNY will make a call for applications for the program in early 2022…. The initiative is anchored by $125 million from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, including $10 million in support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and Ford Foundation…. Participating artists will receive a full-time base salary … plus benefits. Organizations that participate will receive financial support.”
Change font size
