Building a stronger safety net for artists. Springboard’s Guaranteed Income for Artists pilot explores the impact of guaranteed income on artists, culture bearers and creative workers at a neighborhood level and provides a national model for the inclusion of artists in policies that address economic inequity.
Originally launched in 2021 as a “sidecar” to the City of St. Paul’s People's Prosperity Pilot, Springboard’s pilot has grown to support 100 artists across Minnesota, including 50 in Otter Tail County, and 50 in the Frogtown/Rondo neighborhoods for a total of 5 years, making it one of the longest running pilot programs in the nation.
Alongside the pilot itself, our Guaranteed Work spans multiple areas and partnerships, including a collaboration with LSS Financial Counseling to provide Minnesota artists with no-cost personal financial, student loan debt, and housing counseling. We also run Artists Respond: People, Place, and Prosperity, an artist-led cohort that generates narrative change projects inspired by guaranteed income. Finally, Springboard has partnered with the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Guaranteed Income Research to conduct comprehensive studies to chart our pilot's impact.
"Our program is emerging as a national model, demonstrating how guaranteed income can transform artists’ lives, build community resilience, and strengthen local economies. We're not just defying political headwinds—we're changing the narrative with data, artwork, and meaningful stories of impact. When artists can focus more on their work, families art and their community instead of worrying about basic needs, everyone benefits." - Laura Zabel, Executive Director
Read the official press release announcing our pilot's expansion!
“Exhale: Reflections on Guaranteed Income” is on display from October 10-November 23 at the Cargill Gallery in the Minneapolis Central Library. Curated by Emerging Curators Institute, this exhibit features works from artists in Springboard’s Guaranteed Income for Artists pilot and the “Artists Respond: People, Place, and Prosperity” narrative change cohort about the potential impact of Guaranteed Income on their communities, livelihood, and creative practice. What emerges are themes of joy, breath, and care.
Opportunities:
25 artists in Otter Tail County, MN, will be selected through a randomized process to join the pilot program. This form will close on December 1, 2024.
Learning Resources:
Get insight on the impact of Guaranteed Income pilots for artists and creative workers in Minnesota.
Meet the artists making narrative change projects in response to Guaranteed Income.
Springboard participated in the 17th International Basic Income Week from September 16-22, 2024, presenting a series of activities, events, and workshops to celebrate and share resources around Basic Income.
Read evaluations of 30+ guaranteed income pilots across the United States, including ours!
Learn more about how artists' are helping to shape the narrative of guaranteed income.
"Guaranteed Income is the G.O.A.T." by Kandace Creel Falcón
Interdisciplinary artist Kandace Creel Falcón created and installed a billboard located on County Highway 210 outside of Foxhome, MN. Originally an oil painting, the large image features three goats sitting on a bed of grass, a blue sky, red barn, and sun behind them. In the background above sits the phrase, “In rural, we tend to the herd.”
"For the Birds: a means to create, not waste" by Jess Torgerson and Erika Frikken
Cohort Member Jess Torgerson partnered with local artist Erika Frikken to create For the Birds: A Means to Create, Not Waste, a mixed media installation inspired by Guaranteed Income.
"Bubble Up Economics" by Torri Hanna
Cohort member Torri Hanna created a fiber arts installation. About the piece, Torri writes, "The idea is that the small GI payments spread to low-income people will circulate throughout the community and benefit everyone. We've had trickle-down economics for decades now, and most of the benefits have gone to the megarich and large corporations. It's time for a change!"
"You can be hardworking and still need help." Postcard by Alicia Thao
Cohort member Alicia Thao created a digital illustration and postcard. About her work, Alicia writes, "Through my art, I depict individuals from diverse career paths, illustrating that one can have a job, be hardworking, and STILL need financial help."
"Prosperity Sounds" by the Kashimana
Prosperity Sounds EP is a trio of songs in response to the question what does prosperity sound like. Created by cohort member Kashimana, the EP illustrates the hope that guaranteed income as well as universal basic income can provide some solutions towards closing the wealth gap.
"Prosperity Dance" by Deja Joelle
"Everyone deserves to live and thrive." DejaJoelle's meditative work, "Prosperity Dance," is a collaborative performance that invites us to reflect on the essential nature of income, rest, togetherness and quality of life.
Bright Futures Audio Postcards are a visual and audio representation of Saint Paul’s People’s Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot Program. The Bright Futures physical postcards have a QR code with a link to a produced audio story of one of the current participants in the People's Prosperity Pilot, describing why the program worked for their family.
Therapeutic. Mindfulness. Selfcare. Gratitude. Artist Briauna Williams created a multi-page coloring book, "Exhale" in response to the topic of Guaranteed Minimum Income.
FAQ
A guaranteed income is a monthly, cash payment given directly to individuals. It is unconditional, with no strings attached and no work requirements. A guaranteed income is meant to supplement, rather than replace, the existing social safety net and can be a tool for racial and gender equity.
Individual artists and culture workers have little to no safety net to rely on. Many work as freelancers or gig workers, leading to unpredictable income. This issue is exacerbated for artists who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled, or live in rural or underinvested urban areas.
The pandemic exposed these challenges, prompting Springboard to expand its emergency relief fund to assist over 2,500 artists and help 80 communities nationwide establish local emergency funds. While we are proud of our emergency response efforts, we recognize that such measures are not a long-term solution. Systemic change and bigger policy ideas are crucial.
Guaranteed income policies offer a promising approach to addressing systemic poverty at both local and national levels. We advocate for including artists in these economic justice movements, both as beneficiaries and as key allies in driving systemic change.
Inspired by the People’s Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot led by the City of Saint Paul, we are excited to advance direct, unrestricted, noncompetitive financial support for artists and culture workers.
We are collaborating with private funders at local, regional, and national levels to advance this initiative, without utilizing any public funds. We deeply appreciate the McKnight Foundation’s generous support for this phase of our program expansion.
Springboard is currently conducting outreach to create a pool of eligible artists of all career levels and disciplines residing in Otter Tail County, MN. A randomized process will then be used to select 25 eligible artists to join the pilot program. If you are an artist, creative, maker, or culture bearer who currently lives in Otter Tail County, you may complete the interest form on our website. Please note, your information will remain confidential, and filling out this form does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Mayors for Guaranteed Income: https://www.mayorsforagi.org/
Guaranteed Income Pilots Dashboard: https://guaranteedincome.us/
Stockton Demonstration Project findings: https://www.stocktondemonstration.org/
Peoples Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot in St. Paul: https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/financial-empowerment/peoples-prosperityguaranteed-Income-pilot
Guaranteed Income Pilot in Rural Georgia: https://dailyyonder.com/guaranteed-income-initiative-to-focus-on-rural-black-women-in-georgia/2022/05/23/
Other guaranteed income pilots working with artists:
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA/Bay Area:https://ybca.org/guaranteed-income-pilot/
Creatives Rebuild New York: https://www.creativesrebuildny.org/
Power of Cash Narrative Change Fellowship: https://www.economicsecurityil.org/fellowship