From top; The shuttered Gaiety Theatre, Dublin; Dan Boyle

“Intermittent du spectacle” it is known as in France. A monthly COVID support payment given to artists, actors, musicians and technicians working in the Arts to be able to somewhat maintain an income in these difficult times.

I’ve long been a supporter of the introduction of a Universal Basic Income for all citizens, a policy initially promoted by The Greens.

It remains a radical idea. That each citizen in the State is guaranteed a regular income that would not be justified in terms of need or be means tested.

It challenges established ways of operating. The twin silos of government – taxation and social protection – immediately become intertwined.

That likelihood on its own has created much official antipathy to the concept. I learned this when I floated the idea of refundable tax credits when The Greens were last in government. The most resistance then came from within the civil service.

Outside of this the main obstacle has been over the cost of introducing UBI in one fell swoop. Rather than rejecting the policy perhaps the best method of bringing UBI about is by phased introduction.

Who better than artists to be identified as a pilot to be the initiation group in the phased introduction of UBI.

Few other groups of people could be said to live with precarious employment, as the pre-eminent mode of their careers.

As someone who has the most casual brush with rock and roll stardom, I especially feel for musicians in particular. For those with far more ability and talent than I’ve had, so much self worth is wrapped up in the thrill of performance.

This is now a platform that is denied and may be so for a considerable period of time. The virtual platforms seem incapable of being monetised.

This is true not only for performance but with music streaming, the virtual was already proving an appalling vista for artists.

The click to play culture has deprived many musicians, especially songwriters, of the type of income traditional ways of consuming music would have done.

There are two main reasons why we should help artists achieve income maintenance. The first is to foster creativity. The more creative our culture is, the more creative our society is. Ultimately the most creative an economy can be.

The second reason is that our artists are our best means our society has of speaking truth to power. Like the bards of medieval Irish history, well nourished artists hold mirrors towards those who have invested power in themselves.

Initially there will be a need to define and thus limit those who can considered artists. This need not be stringent. Having performed, having exhibited, having created are all the criteria that would be necessary.

When Basic Income becomes universal being an artist would become a matter of self definition. As would many other activities and occupations, that are not currently being economically acknowledged through tired and testing market determinants.

On the first records I bought may not have been a rock and roll classic, but it did contain this couplet that more succinctly sums up my argument.

‘Art for Art’s sake
Money for God’s sake’

Dan Boyle is a former Green Party TD and Senator and serves as a Green Party councillor on Cork City Council. His column appears here every Thursday. Follow Dan on Twitter: @sendboyle

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