Irish Government Pays Artists & Musicians $330 ‘Basic Income’ Allowance

[Hydrogen]

The Irish government is now paying 2,000 artists, musicians, writers, and performers a ‘basic income’ of €325 ($329) each week.

The plan for the Basic Income for Artists was originally announced back in January 2022. The Minister for Culture and Arts is spending around €25m ($23.3M) on the initiative. Over 9,000 people applied to join the program, with 2,000 accepted. Those who were accepted into the program were selected anonymously and at random. According to the BBC, musicians, and artists make up the bulk of recipients, who will receive the stipend for three years.

The basic income initiative was set up for those working in the arts by a task force appointed by the Irish Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media, Catherine Martin.

The task force was created to suggest ways the arts could recover from the damage caused by the pandemic. One of the stipulations of joining the program is taking part in a research project to determine the impact of the payment.

Dublin has the highest number of recipients of the Irish Basic Income for musicians grant, at 764. Cork has 212, and Galway has 148 recipients. The breakdown for recipients is 700 visual artists, 584 musicians, 204 film creatives, and 184 writers. Around 170 actors and others working on theater projects were also selected. That includes 32 dancers and choreographers, 13 circus artists, and 10 architects. 50 of the recipients work in the Irish language.

The high demand for the basic income stipend was acknowledged by the government. Irish Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin says, “there will be a lot of disappointed people today who applied and didn’t get selected. I am very grateful to everyone who took the time to apply and I understand their disappointment.”

“Ireland could lead the way on a new model to support people active in the sector, recognizing its importance to all people,” she adds.


https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2022/09/12/irish-government-basic-income-artists-musicians/

....


Forms of UBI (Universal Basic Income) have been deployed recently.

Above we see ireland offering UBI to artists and musicians.

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I think denmark and perhaps a few other european nations are known for running stipend based (UBI) programs for college students.

For them to be successful however the politicians running them need to be somewhat honest and reliable. Which may not be something every nation on earth has.

[jackg]

I think in theory it looks like a good idea but it'd be interesting to get a more robust programme for something like this in place (I'm not sure if they have one already). As in maybe offer guides on how similar people have made it in the past or offer this over a shorter timeframe (although that might ramp up the pressure too much).

I see a lot of people on social media trying to set up businesses and getting a good audience from it (whether the audience just enjoy watching the livestreams, are forced there by the algorithm or actively participate in the person's business is something I wouldn't know).

The arts is a tentative industry at the moment imo (especially for actors/love performers) so this might do something to help realign that industry. I hope it encourages musicians and singers to make more/reasonable demands on record companies too if they're signed.

I don't think the cryptospace for nfts is developed well enough to be decentralised to offer a way for these people to produce things and get recognised yet though either.

[Maus0728]

Meanwhile, in our country, when the government talks about giving you a project-based commissions related to visual arts(e.g., mural painting, storybooks designing) they either release your payment months after the job is finished or they underpay you so much that even two months' worth of rent can't cover.

If only most countries were like this, I doubt there would still be artists who suffered from inequity  

[Poker Player]

The problem with artists is that only a few of them manage to make a living from it, being the normal thing that they combine their passion with jobs that give them a living.

What this kind of help does is to stop them from looking for a main job, even if they are mediocre musicians or writers.

In a market without intervention, the best ones live off their passion, others who are good but not so good have their passion as a part-time job and the worst ones disappear.

What this does is to support mediocrity, instead of excellence.

Having said that, I want to clarify that I am not against public aid to people with low income per se, but not as a universal solution offered by politicians to the problems created by themselves.

[Leviathan.007]

Some countries have recently started paying basic incomes to people who are unable to work and who do not have a normal income. But the organizations and governments have changed their minds over time and now they will pay a normal basic income to different people in their country. For example, in this case, paying a basic income to artists and musicians can make a big difference because they will work for money anymore and they are not under pressure because of economic issues or they will have fewer economic problems which can help them in their lives.

[Gyfts]

The idea here being that Ireland is looking to restore it's tourism and entertainment sector, so they're issuing a UBI to produce creative content.

My guess is this will have a negative ROI, as with most UBI expenditures. The government isn't as good as allocating funds as the market would allow. Meaning, if the tourism industry is sunk due to COVID, investing into UBI for musicians and artists in order to restore a dead industry that the market hasn't afforded a recovery for yet is money down the drain.

UBI only works if there was some seismic economic event that put a large segment of the working population out the workforce. COVID and the entertainment tourism industry hardly qualifies.

[electronicash]

artist doesn't sound like a job but i'd like to get a basic income by just posing around the alley's corner sitting on the invisible chair with my hat upside down in front. so whats the rob? it doesn't really look like its going to help the economy.

$330 is a nice basic income hope they are not pressured to produce NFT art thru the governments NFT market.

[stompix]

Some countries have recently started paying basic incomes to people who are unable to work and who do not have a normal income. But the organizations and governments have changed their minds over time and now they will pay a normal basic income to different people in their country.

All these will stop and never be mentioned again, UBI was a failure and no leftist will be recognized this failure wherever it was tried, they've tried spinning the result in any possible way, like counting those that sought to be employed as numbers that would mean anything.

Finland is the greatest example, they started this in 2017 and killed it in 2019 since it was just money thrown away and nobody actually did something to improve their status, nearly all of them ended up unemployed for real. The actual results were so bad that Finland got the opposite way altogether after this:

The Finnish government argued that existing unemployment benefits were so high and the system so rigid that a person who was unemployed might choose not to take a job because they would risk losing money — the higher your earnings, the lower your social benefits. The basic-income trial was designed as an incentive for people to start working.

But last December, the Finnish Parliament passed a bill to take the country's welfare system in quite the opposite direction. The new "activation model" law requires job seekers to work a minimum of 18 hours or enter a training program within three months and stipulates that if they don't manage to find a job, they lose some of their benefits.

UBI is just a utopia that as any utopia will never work, and if does for 1 or 2 years what's next will be a hundred times worse.

Just look at what's happening right now
We had people doing nothing and getting paid, what has this led to?

[fiulpro]

Meanwhile, in our country, when the government talks about giving you a project-based commissions related to visual arts(e.g., mural painting, storybooks designing) they either release your payment months after the job is finished or they underpay you so much that even two months' worth of rent can't cover.

If only most countries were like this, I doubt there would still be artists who suffered from inequity  

The countries that you mentioned are basically the ones who are developing and thus they don't just have a problem paying rightfully but they also have a problem enhancing the existing talent in their own countries, I honestly would like to state how the industrialization literally killed the whole hand textile market and at the end people moved from hand textiles to buying the industrial products in their own countries thus the product made of hand that can be sold for 100's of dollars is now sold on streets for 1$ each, which people buy and export and thus the whole cycle keeps continuing as well. I do think that at the end of the day, it's amazing that they are " respecting" artists and also doing their bit to help them financially.

[Captain Corporate]

The "idea" is good and noble, we need creators to have a financial backing so that they do not feel obliged to do something out of necessity for money, the idea stems from all the way back to 15th century italy for example, all those famous leonardo da vinci style artists got paid a patronage to keep doing what they are doing and not worry about money. At the end of the day thats a good thing, BUT we should be serious and realize that 330 dollars is nothing, in Ireland its definitely good for you to go cover your tab for the week in a pub maybe, but thats about as much as it can cover, or at least maybe bills.

[Cryptomultiplier]

Meanwhile, in our country, when the government talks about giving you a project-based commissions related to visual arts(e.g., mural painting, storybooks designing) they either release your payment months after the job is finished or they underpay you so much that even two months' worth of rent can't cover.

If only most countries were like this, I doubt there would still be artists who suffered from inequity  

I do think that at the end of the day, it's amazing that they are " respecting" artists and also doing their bit to help them financially.

Any development by the government to help artists financially is a welcomed idea. Artists have nowadays resorted to other means to survive since the pandemic and as passionate as some may be, having a family to carter for, bills to pay and sourcing of materials for work may be the biggest challenge they have to face in this current economy. Creatives are needed more in today's society due to the fact that their thinking outside the box mentality can assist a governments economic, political, structural and educational standings. With corruption in government however, it is noteworthy to be mindful of persons who would handle such allowances, so as to get the best out of an initiative as this.

[Flexystar]

What an encouraging news for the Irish  artists. I am so glad that Irish Government is thinking about the Arts and Music industry with such deep thought. This will definitely motivate all the artist in the country and anyone willing to work in that country as an artist. In the modern world it's value is always deprecating because it's too much concentrated field. Artists require huge platform, hard work and their entire work depends on the popularity. Many times that forms the basis of their income. For example, someone investing in art gallery to display their art, filling up exhibitions etc. This could take both money and their ultimate times. It's possible they may never succeed even with perfect art.

Many of the artist face challenges to earn decent money in that way. Now I am not sure what was Irish Government's first take on this, but this will really help the artist and musician to survive average+ life. 

[trendcoin]

The "idea" is good and noble, we need creators to have a financial backing so that they do not feel obliged to do something out of necessity for money, the idea stems from all the way back to 15th century italy for example, all those famous leonardo da vinci style artists got paid a patronage to keep doing what they are doing and not worry about money.
...

All known historical data is that Leonardo Da Vinci left many of his works unfinished (https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/the-unfinished-works-of-leonardo-da-vinci/). Therefore, his job offer may have been rejected by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II (https://editions.covecollective.org/content/leonardo-da-vincis-letter-sultan-beyazid-ii). :)

Leonardo Da Vinci was an extraordinary genius. What doesn't work even for him will definitely not work for anyone. :)


1- States will cause inflation by printing more money to provide a universal basic income.
2- Those who benefit from universal basic income will never want to work again (%99).
3- When working people see their earnings melt in the face of inflation, they will begin to lose their desire to work.
4- After all, I don't care about some allegedly empirical data, this plan is garbage in my mind because universal basic income has the potential to create a non-working and non-productive society.

[Hydrogen]

BTW.

Is there anyone here who has experience using crypto based UBI platforms like:

https://www.gooddollar.org/

Crypto based UBI seems like a new concept and trend. People are always comparing new crypto initiatives with early adoption bitcoin. Perhaps we finally have a winner here?

[Oceat]

Meanwhile, in our country, when the government talks about giving you a project-based commissions related to visual arts(e.g., mural painting, storybooks designing) they either release your payment months after the job is finished or they underpay you so much that even two months' worth of rent can't cover.

If only most countries were like this, I doubt there would still be artists who suffered from inequity  

The countries that you mentioned are basically the ones who are developing and thus they don't just have a problem paying rightfully but they also have a problem enhancing the existing talent in their own countries, I honestly would like to state how the industrialization literally killed the whole hand textile market and at the end people moved from hand textiles to buying the industrial products in their own countries thus the product made of hand that can be sold for 100's of dollars is now sold on streets for 1$ each, which people buy and export and thus the whole cycle keeps continuing as well. I do think that at the end of the day, it's amazing that they are " respecting" artists and also doing their bit to help them financially.

I don't think it that way though but it's different when you have a company or you are employed(under with some top mainstream media) compared to those who aren't in the contract. It's just different for both of them I wish the government should support those talented people but they focused too much on the athletes than those who makes art. Most artist doesn't get some recognition but only if their works are being noticed worldwide. smh

[Synchronice]

This kind of attitude never works for good. People are just becoming lazy, a lot of them even avoid jobs in order to not lose their basic income.
This world is so unfair, one lazy artist gets basic income out of thin air while another person is breaking his back, doing manual labor jobs to get money for food and rent.

Way out of a situation is the following:
Competent ones win the game, others have to either become more competent or give up and do another thing. If Cillian Murphy managed to succeed, others can do too, basic income will only make them worse.

The idea here being that Ireland is looking to restore it's tourism and entertainment sector, so they're issuing a UBI to produce creative content.

Does the Irish government really think that it will significantly increase tourism or even have any effect? No one will travel to Ireland to see a live theatre show, people prefer Netflix.
On another hand, more people will really visit Ireland if rent prices in Dublin will come down a little bit

[$anounimus$]

BTW.

Is there anyone here who has experience using crypto based UBI platforms like:

https://www.gooddollar.org/

Crypto based UBI seems like a new concept and trend. People are always comparing new crypto initiatives with early adoption bitcoin. Perhaps we finally have a winner here?

That's an interesting question, but I can't say I'm saying I've used it. I think this should be discussed as one of UBI's crypto programs for the development of the crypto economy and how it applies to the world of social welfare and whether there will be use cases that UBI can take advantage of in the future.

[Lucius]

I really love Irish highland music, their folk music is just mesmerizing. Infact they deserve far more than that. It's sad that in today's tech world people really don't value the  music and culture. Very few people now go to Opera and concerts.

Maybe people don't go to the opera or to concerts in some countries where it's banned or doesn't even exist - but opera is very popular in Ireland, although many such events had to be canceled due to the pandemic. People in countries with high standards go to such events much more, and buying a ticket for such an event is not an easy task.


Regarding the distribution of money to artists, is that any more strange than the stimulus checks that have been distributed in the US on several occasions? If a country wants to share money with its residents in one way or another, it is a matter of their internal policy. What I know is that more and more Irish people are leaving the country, and that Irish employment agencies are going all over the EU in search of workers and offering them more than good conditions if they want to work in Ireland.

[Rikafip]

Giving money to people for absolutely nothing in return? What could possibly go wrong. UBI is like communism as it works only on paper but when you try to implement in the real life, you soon realize that it simply can't work. World is not a Star Trek  utopia.

What I know is that more and more Irish people are leaving the country, and that Irish employment agencies are going all over the EU in search of workers and offering them more than good conditions if they want to work in Ireland.

Honestly, I am not surprised that so many Irish people are leaving the country. I have a few close relatives there so I visited them a couple of times and I didn't like what I see and could never live there. Its a weird combination of 3rd world country infrastructure and 1st world salaries, where bunch of people are getting loads of money for doing nothing/very little. It might be an interesting place to live if you are 20yo and all you want is to party and have a good time, but raising kids there? No thnx.

[avikz]

It's so kind of Irish government to provide a basic income to the artists. But countries like Ireland can afford it given the population is less and stands second in per capita income. So it all makes sense for them! It helps in circulation of money as well as increases the purchasing power of the people. In turn, it increases demand and money flows into the economy. It's beneficial for a small country like Ireland.

But in bigger countries and especially where the corruption rate is high, this is not a feasible solution. Like in India, if the government tries to start similar basic income schemes, most of the money will flow into the hands of corrupt politicians and their close aids. A very minor percentage of population will actually get the benefit. It is practically impossible for India to maintain sanity of such initiatives.