Basic Income for the Arts

Over the last few years, the issues of low pay, precarious work and poverty have become ever more prevalent across the arts and entertainment industry. Flaws in the universal credit and wider social security system are a major barrier for access for many creative professionals. Equity’s Northern Ireland Committee notes that the Basic Income for the Arts scheme has recently been made permanent in the Republic of Ireland.  The devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales are actively investigating the possibility of similar schemes. It seems that the time for Basic Income for the Arts is here – but not in Northern Ireland.  In contrast to these prevailing trends, NI Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has recently stated that no such initiative will be considered in Northern Ireland.

Equity urges the NIC- ICTU Conference to support their campaign which calls on the Northern Ireland Executive to:

• reconsider a pilot basic income for performers and creative workers in Northern Ireland akin to the scheme in the Republic of Ireland.

• work closely with the trade union movement to ensure any pilot scheme aligns with the existing collective bargaining framework to support those in work to earn well.

• work closely with the trade union movement to ensure the scheme does not impact upon funding provided directly to Arts Council Northern Ireland or other arts Arms Length Bodies.

• work closely with Irish Government, Westminster and the other devolved nations to share learnings and investigate potential joint action.