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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

Springboard Staff

Economic Opportunity Director

Community Development Director
In Minnesota, the Nation's Longest Guaranteed Income Pilot for Artists Expands to 5 Years

Read the official press release announcing our pilot's expansion!

Read Press Release
EXHALE: Reflections on Guaranteed Income

“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.

 

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Opportunities:

Interest form for Artists in Otter Tail County, MN

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.

 

Submit an interest form

Learning Resources:

The Art of Economic Justice

Get insight on the impact of Guaranteed Income pilots for artists and creative workers in Minnesota.

Read the Report
Artists Respond: People, Place, and Prosperity

Meet the artists making narrative change projects in response to Guaranteed Income.

Meet the Cohorts
International Basic Income Week

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.

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Impact Data on Springboard's Pilot

Read evaluations of 30+ guaranteed income pilots across the United States, including ours!

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Read stories of artist' impact and basic income

Learn more about how artists' are helping to shape the narrative of guaranteed income.

Read stories on Creative Exchange
Artists Respond: People, Place, Prosperity
Artists Respond: People, Place, Prosperity
Artists Respond: People, Place, Prosperity
Artists Respond: People, Place, Prosperity
Kashimana, Prosperity Sounds
Deja Joelle headshot
Deja Joelle headshot
Exhale illustration by Briauna Williams
Kandace Creel Falcón

"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.”

Jess Torgerson

"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.

Torri Hanna

"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!"

Alicia Thao

"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."

Kashimana

"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.

Deja Joelle

"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.

Katey Decelle

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.

Briuana Williams

Therapeutic. Mindfulness. Selfcare. Gratitude. Artist Briauna Williams created a multi-page coloring book, "Exhale" in response to the topic of Guaranteed Minimum Income.

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Thank you to the following funders and partners for making this work possible: