Agenda item

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, it was

            Moved by The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Doherty)

            Seconded by Councillor de Faoite,

“This Council notes that:

The arts, culture and creative sectors are central to Belfast’s social fabric, wellbeing, identity, and local economy.

Many artists, performers and creative workers in Belfast and across the North continue to experience insecure, low and irregular incomes, worsened by the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The Irish Government introduced a Basic Income for Artists pilot in 2022, providing an unconditional weekly payment to artists and creative workers, which has been independently evaluated as improving financial stability, wellbeing, and time spent on creative practice.

The Irish Government has now committed to making this scheme permanent, recognising the structural precarity faced by those working in the creative industries.

This Council believes that:

·         Artists and creative workers should not be forced out of their professions due to financial insecurity.

·         Belfast’s creative sector is a vital public good, contributing to community cohesion, regeneration, tourism, mental health, youth engagement and cultural life.

·         A Basic Income for Artists scheme in the north would help protect creative livelihoods, retain local talent, and strengthen the city’s cultural ecosystem.

This Council resolves to:

·         Call on the Executive to introduce and fund a Basic Income for Artists scheme, modelled on the Irish Government’s programme, providing regular, unconditional income support to eligible artists and creative workers.

·         Request that the Minister for Communities lead on the development of this scheme, in partnership with the Department for the Economy and the Department of Finance, engaging directly with the arts and creative sectors in its design.

·         Write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister urging that this proposal be treated as a priority within the Executive’s Programme for Government and budget-setting process.”

Amendment

Moved by Councillor Groogan,

Seconded by Councillor Flynn,

That the motion standing in the name of The Deputy Lord Mayor (Councillor Doherty), seconded by Councillor de Faoite be amended as follows:

 “This Council notes that:

The arts, culture and creative sectors are central to Belfast’s social fabric, wellbeing, identity, and local economy.

Many artists, performers and creative workers in Belfast and across the North continue to experience insecure, low and irregular incomes, worsened by the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The Irish Government introduced a Basic Income for Artists pilot in 2022, providing an unconditional weekly payment to artists and creative workers, which has been independently evaluated as improving financial stability, wellbeing, and time spent on creative practice.

The Irish Government has now committed to making this scheme permanent, recognising the structural precarity faced by those working in the creative industries.

This Council believes that:

·         The arts and culture are for everyone and government policy should ensure the widest possible participation, inclusion and engagement with the sector;

·         Artists and creative workers should not be forced out of their professions due to financial insecurity or have to rely on other employment, detracting from their time and ability to create, in order to survive;

·         Belfast’s creative sector is a vital public good, contributing to community cohesion, regeneration, tourism, public health including mental health and wellbeing, youth engagement and cultural life;

·         A Basic Income for Artists scheme in the north would help protect creative livelihoods, retain local talent, and strengthen the city’s cultural ecosystem. Evidence from the Irish scheme has proven that a Basic Income for Artists is an investment that pays back to the economy and society more than it costs, through increased expenditure, increased productivity and less reliance on other welfare payments. This scheme will help to reduce barriers to people who are from working class, global majority and/or those who are working at a disadvantage, ensuring diversity and inclusion within the creative industries.

This Council resolves to:

·         Call on the Executive to legislate for and fund a Basic Income for Artists scheme, providing regular, unconditional income support to eligible artists and creative workers. This scheme should be permanent, include all eligible artists and creative workers and be provided indefinitely while they remain eligible for the scheme.

·         Request that the Minister for Communities lead on the development of this scheme, in partnership with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Department for the Economy and the Department of Finance. The Minister should work directly with artists, arts organisations and those working in the creative industries to design and set the terms of the scheme and eligibility based on local needs and experience; and

·         Write to the First Minister and deputy First Minister urging that this proposal be treated as a priority within the Executive’s Programme for Government and budget-setting process.”

            The amendment was put to the Council and, on a vote, thirty-five Members voted for the amendment, with fifteen against and it was declared carried.

            Accordingly, the amendment was put to the Council as the substantive motion and it was passed.