A guaranteed basic income program has provided financial relief to artists in New York, allowing them to focus on their creative endeavors without the constant stress of financial instability.
Jacinta Bunnell Benefits from Guaranteed Income
Jacinta Bunnell, a 52-year-old artist from Stone Ridge, New York, experienced a significant change in her life thanks to the Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) guaranteed income program. Stone Ridge, located about 100 miles north of Manhattan, is home to Bunnell’s diverse artistic projects, including coloring books, recycled paper art, and a children’s book promoting LGBTQ+ family life. Despite her passion for her work, Bunnell often struggled to make ends meet.
The CRNY program, launched in 2021, provided 2,400 artists across New York state with $1,000 monthly for 18 months. This financial support, distributed in staggered groups starting in summer 2022 and ending in March 2024, aimed to help artists recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bunnell used her guaranteed income to cover essential expenses like healthcare and art supplies.
Program Design and Funding
The program was developed by a think tank comprising artists, arts administrators, and guaranteed income scholars. It received funding from several foundations, including the Mellon Foundation, Tides Center, Ford Foundation, and Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Participants were selected based on financial need as determined by the self-sufficiency standard, a measure established in the 1990s by Dr. Diana Pearce to determine the income required for basic necessities in a specific location.
Eligible participants identified as artists, culture bearers, or culture makers, engaging in various creative practices such as crafts, dance, design, filmmaking, literary arts, theater, music, and oral tradition. The selection process did not evaluate the artistic merit of their work.
Impact on Artists’ Lives
The CRNY program aimed to address the financial struggles faced by many artists. According to a survey conducted by CRNY, most New York artists have a household income below $50,000 per year, with 46% relying on gig work for additional income. Bunnell’s chronic illness had previously limited her ability to work, but the guaranteed income helped her afford necessary healthcare treatments and provided financial stability.
“The timing of it literally couldn’t have been more perfect because I was able to get on my feet again and start thinking about making art,” Bunnell shared. The program not only alleviated her financial stress but also motivated her to pursue more art projects.
Future of Guaranteed Income Programs
In addition to the monthly guaranteed income, CRNY also launched a two-year program offering $65,000 annual salaries to 300 artists across the state, set to end in 2024. While there are no plans to extend these programs, the organization has allocated $43.2 million to the guaranteed income program and $61.6 million to the artist employment program.
Despite facing political and legal opposition, guaranteed income programs have shown positive anecdotal results, with participants using the funds to build financial stability and continue their creative work. “The reality is that most people could really benefit from a little extra cash a month,” said Maura Cuffie-Peterson, director of strategic initiatives for CRNY.
The CRNY program is one of over 100 similar pilots across the US aimed at reducing local poverty levels by providing low-income Americans with financial support. Participants have used the money for various essential expenses, including rent, groceries, debt repayment, and medical bills.
As the final report on the CRNY program is expected to be published at the end of July, the long-term impact of guaranteed income on artists’ financial stability remains to be seen. However, early results indicate that the program has provided a crucial safety net for many New York artists, allowing them to continue their creative pursuits without the constant burden of financial uncertainty.