New York launches guaranteed income program: $125 million will be paid to people

This year, pilot Guaranteed Basic Income (UBI) programs for 2022 were launched in Hudson and Ulster counties. Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) is a new initiative similar to other UBI programs. New York Daily Herald.

CRNY provides a no-obligation monthly payment to nearly 2400 creative professionals seeking financial support. The second component of the program will fund and promote the employment of 300 artists in dozens of small and medium-sized public art organizations across the country.

The art industry in New York City has been hit hard by the pandemic. The program aims to bring it to life while recognizing the work of creatives across the state.

“From an artist’s perspective, this is a dream come true,” said Keiko Sono, a Catskills artist, supporter of Universal Basic Income and a member of the group of artists that helped form CRNY.

CRNY is a three-year initiative. Its goal is to accelerate systemic change in the art and cultural industries, as well as the recognition of creators as individuals, not just their works.

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«Creative personalities need and receive regular income, ”says the CRNY website.

The arts and culture industries generate approximately $ 120 billion in revenue for New York State. They provide nearly half a million jobs. Due to the pandemic, the unemployment rate for artists across the country is as high as 55 percent.

CRNY Follows Wave of Experimental Basic Income Pilot Programs

The new initiative is a response to the support of the art community. Moreover, it is an experiment carried out with a guaranteed model basic income... Last October, San Francisco hosted a pilot UBI program, in which 130 creative professionals received grants of $ 1000 per month.

UBI programs already exist in the region. Hudson's UBI pilot project is still ongoing and is giving some residents $ 500 a month. In February, Ulster County announced the launch of its guaranteed basic income program. In Ulster, 100 residents with a specified income level were randomly selected from 4200 applicants for $ 500 per month for a year.

CRNY will announce applications for the program in early 2022. Funding will go exclusively to creative people, mostly based in New York, in need of financial support.

The initiative was supported by the Andrew Mellon Foundation with its $ 125 million. Including $ 10 million were contributed by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and the Ford Foundation. CRNY is a Tides Center funded project that provides organizational and operational support.

A nine-member executive board and a 28-member think tank helped shape CRNY and get it started. Participants in each of them are representatives of different sectors of society, from art to business.

It is not known how much creative people will receive

The details of how much the selected creators will receive per month and for how long have not yet been released. As part of the employment program, they are paid three days a week wages in an art community organization for positions that allow their creativity to grow. They are given two other working days free of charge to continue their own creative practice.

Program participants will receive a full-time base salary. It is estimated to be equal to the average earnings in New York State plus benefits. Participating organizations will receive financial support.