Scottish parties back Equity’s call for Basic Income for Artists

Equity has won important backing for our key election campaign in Scotland, with two of the biggest parties backing our call for a Scottish Basic Income for Artists (BIA).

With three weeks left until polling day, both Scottish Labour and the SNP have backed versions of our call, putting arts investment and funding for creatives into their manifestos. Welcoming the move from each party, Equity Scotland Official Marlene Curran said: “This is a welcome move from Scottish Labour and the SNP. Now it’s time for all parties to get behind this innovative policy which would support working class artists and make Scotland the leading nation in the UK for developing a fairer creative economy.”

Just three weeks after we launched our campaign, on 8 April Scottish Labour was the first party to back a form of a basic income for artists. Anas Sarwar pledged that Scottish Labour will set up a pilot scheme of a Creative Enterprise Allowance – a weekly payment – supporting up to 1,000 creatives and artists over a two-year pilot from a £30 million funding pot. A great early win for Equity, and one we welcomed.

A week later, the SNP pledged in its manifesto to introduce a Scottish Artists Minimum Income, closely based on the successful Irish model. The SNP’s commitment outlines how up to 2,000 artists and workers would benefit from almost £15,000 a year with a £30 million funding pot for the pilot scheme. Another boost for creatives and an Equity win!

Describing the Scottish Artists Minimum Income scheme as “so important to Scotland”, SNP campaign director Angus Robertson said: “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 seems that the issue of a BIA is on many Holyrood candidates’ agenda. The Scottish Greens have pledged to “improve pay and conditions for arts and cultural workers” with a focus on achieving the Real Living Wage, although fall short of backing a BIA explicitly. We urge them to go further and seriously consider our BIA proposals.

The Scottish Conservatives are out of step with wider sentiment and have described a Basic Income for Artists as a “gimmick”. We think they have time to come round to the idea and urge them to investigate the positive economic and social benefits that a BIA would bring to Scotland.

“It’s great to have the backing of two key parties in Scotland,” said Marlene Curran. “With less than three weeks until polling day, Equity is asking voters to ensure that arts are on the agenda and part of their voting decisions. We’re asking all Holyrood candidates to back a pilot scheme of a Scottish BIA so that Scotland can grab this opportunity and lead the way on arts in the UK.”

More on the Basic Income for Artists

In March, Equity launched our campaign for a Scottish Basic Income for Artists (BIA). Based on the successful model introduced in the Republic of Ireland, this would be a regular payment for the successful number of applicants who work in the creative industry and are based in Scotland. We argue that a society that gives the BIA to creatives will reap the benefits for the economy, its people and the arts.

A BIA would bring increased dedicated time to the arts, something that would benefit everyone, not only those working in the sector, with improved health, wellbeing and sense of place. Crucially, a BIA would help remove the class privilege of those who can work in the arts, making it a viable career for the many talented working class Scottish creatives who may be priced out of making a career in the arts. Addressing the class barrier would bring through innovative Scottish creatives making home-grown Scottish art and help develop and deliver modern Scottish art and culture to wider audiences.

The economic benefits are clear too, both within the creative sector and the wider economy. A BIA would help retain talent in the sector and have an increased economic return. Arts and culture boost local economies, bringing audiences into town and city centres and increasing hospitality, transport and other sectors.

Read more about our campaign for a Scottish Basic Income for Artists or visit our Class Network site on the links below.