Arts Policy: Arts for the People

Pay Artists Properly, Make Space for the Arts, Make Arts Affordable, Support the Arts at Night, Fund the Arts

Cover image People Before Profit Arts for the People

Key Arts for the People policy demands:

Pay Artists Properly

●   Expand the Basic Income for the Arts so all eligible artists can access it for as long as they need. Increase it to €375 a week.

●   Introduce living wage rates for artists

Make Space for the Arts

●   Legislate for low-cost “meanwhile” use of vacant premises and faster compulsory purchase by councils of long term vacant and derelict properties

●   Reinstate 5% space for arts, culture and community spaces, including live/workspaces for artists, in new developments

●   Fund local councils to renovate and fit out vacant spaces for artists, arts and cultural uses

●   Cap rents at a quarter of household income

Make Arts Affordable

●   Free entry for under-25s, disabled people and carers and a free day every month in all publicly supported venues

●   End the Ticketmaster rip off - establish a not-for-profit publicly-owned ticketing agency

Support the Arts at Night

●   Extend permitted opening hours to 5am for late night venues, with free 24-hour public transport

Fund the Arts

●   Increase government funding for arts and culture by 50% in the short term; double it in the medium term

●   Expand the definition of arts eligible for state funding to include comedy and other creative art forms