Financial insecurity is increasingly a barrier between artists and their creative practice - but there is another way!

A universal basic income is the idea that everyone should have an unconditional, regular cash payment that covers their basic needs as a right. We are convening a group of artists, arts organisations and arts unions to discuss how a basic income for artists can be explored in Scotland.

Ireland piloted a targeted basic income for artists after a recommendation from the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce Ireland during COVID lockdowns. 2000 artists received a weekly payment of €325 for 2.5 years from 2022 to 2025. The scheme was shown to return €1.39 for every €1 invested. The Irish Government recently announced that they would be making their Basic Income for Artists Scheme permanent.

Basic Income Network Scotland and Basic Income Conversation are hosting this event to:

• Discuss what a basic income would mean for artists in Scotland and their creative practice
• Bring together artists, arts organisations and arts unions to consider the challenges for artists in Scotland and how a basic income might impact them
• Share some insight into universal basic income and the basic income for artists scheme in Ireland
• Explore what next steps we might want to take to make the case for a basic income for artists in Scotland

Register using this form to join the Conversation from 6pm - 8pm on Monday 2nd February, there will be snacks and hot drinks available.

“A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction.” - Virginia Woolf