From the Field

Insights into Cash Support, Employment Programs for Artists

In response to the precarious economic situation many artists face, Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) started two programs to support artists in 2022: the Guaranteed Income for Artists program and the Artist Employment Program. The Guaranteed Income for Artists program provided 2,400 artists across New York State with monthly, no-strings-attached payments of $1,000 for 18 consecutive months. The Artist Employment Program funded employment for 300 artists working in collaboration with community based organizations across New York State from 2022-2024. Artists participating in the Artist Employment Program received a salary of $65,000 per year (commensurate with median household income in New York State) plus benefits and dedicated time to focus on their artistic practice. Community based organizations receive $25,000-$100,000 per year to support their collaborations with these artists.

CRNY recently released new reports analyzing the impact of these programs. The Guaranteed Income for Artists Impact Study demonstrates the many ways guaranteed income benefits artists’ financial stability, creative output and overall well-being. For instance, participants in the program experienced a 19% reduction in food insecurity, a 19% increase in hours spent on arts related labor, and a 29% reduction in severe anxiety and depression. More detailed findings are presented in seven research briefs that explore key themes: demographics of artists, spending patterns, financial well-being, artists’ labor, juggling responsibilities, health and well-being. and community/family impacts.

Moreover, CRNY’s Deaf and Disabled Artist Employment report examines the contexts for Deaf and disabled artists’ employment and communicates information about the unique experiences of Deaf and disabled artists in the Artist Employment Program. The report reflects on the unique successes and challenges of the program for Deaf and disabled artists, as well as recommendations for future employment programs. Some of these recommendations include designing a selection process with and for Deaf and disabled artists, planning for reliable and high-quality language access, and offering clear and detailed guidance on the structure of employment. More detailed reflections on the program are included in the report. Taken together, CRNY’s research offers critical insights for policymakers and advocates in arts policy.

Promoting Young People’s Well-Being

As fewer schools offer arts education programs, especially in low-income neighborhoods with limited access to resources, organizations in many communities have stepped in with out-of-school time activities. New research commissioned by the Wallace Foundation, Well-Being and Well-Becoming through the Arts, explores the ways these youth arts programs can foster well-being and social belonging, especially for youth of color. Defining these programs as “culture-centered, community-based youth arts programs,” (CCYA), the researchers identified how the programs are designed to provide young people with opportunities for belonging, identity affirmation and skill development through the arts. For instance, interviews with CCYA staff and participants showed that participants often experience joy, a sense of accomplishment and a growth in confidence through their engagement in the arts. These characteristics promote what the researchers call “well-becoming,” which is movement toward a desirable future state. These findings, among others, lead the researchers to conclude that CCYA organizations should receive more attention in research, policy, funding and practice.