Springboard for the Arts: Introducing a New Art Market Model to Guarantee Income for Rural Artists

Springboard for the Arts is a non-profit that aims to empower artists from rural Minnesota through guaranteed income. During its pilot project in 2020, it gave its artists a USD 500 monthly income for 18 months, which accumulated to a total of USD 675,000 as they were, and continues to, fund 75 artists. The initiative was run by the Guaranteed Income Pilot Dashboard (GIPD) which consists of the Stanford Basic Income Lab, the University of Pennsylvania Center for Guaranteed Income Research and the University of Tennessee.

Guaranteed Income is the G.O.A.T. by Kandace Creel Falcón, artist participating in the Springboard for the Arts Guaranteed Income. Image courtesy of Springboard for the Arts’ website.

The GIPD found that participating artists used their guaranteed income on retail purchases (35.95 percent), food and groceries (30.36 percent) and housing and utilities (10.04 percent), meaning they were effectively able to give artists peace of mind to create artworks and make-ends-meet at the same time. Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, the non-profit model is one of the few guaranteed artist income models that has become a global proposal for a new model of art business. These models empower artists from underprivileged backgrounds in a notoriously elitist industry. This is why the Springboard for the Arts' work is relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Decent Work And Economic Growth.

Photograph of Kandace Creel Falcón and their goats, artist participating in the Springboard for the Arts Guaranteed Income. Image courtesy of Springboard for the Arts’ website.

In their latest iteration, they have also worked with artist Kandace Creel Falcón, who created a billboard titled Guaranteed Income is the G.O.A.T. on County Highway 210, just outside of Foxhome, Minnesota. The painted billboard showcases three goats lying down close next to each other. “I made this painting to represent the joys and connections I recognize between how we as rural folk tend to the herd, whether they be goats or each other, to increase awareness about the concept of Guaranteed Income in our rural communities of Otter Tail County and beyond,” says Falcón about the work.

For The Birds: A Means to Create Not Waste by Jessalyn Togerson, artist participating in the Springboard for the Arts Guaranteed Income. Made with Erika Frikken. Image courtesy of Hyperallergic.

Springboard for the Arts is pioneering a transformative approach to supporting rural artists by providing guaranteed income, financial stability and creative freedom. Their pilot program has shown tangible benefits, allowing artists to focus on their work while meeting basic needs. This innovative model addresses the economic challenges faced by artists in underprivileged communities and sets a precedent for more inclusive and sustainable practices in the art industry. By fostering economic growth and creative expression, Springboard for the Arts is making significant strides toward a more equitable future for artists.

Find out more about guaranteed income for artists by Springboard for the Arts and their other initiatives on www.springboardforthearts.org or Instagram @springboardarts.