The Arts Council today welcomed a new government initiative to help artists access social welfare supports, saying the pilot scheme represented a progressive step and a clear signal from the government that Ireland places special value on the work of artists. 

The move, announced today by the Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar TD, and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys TD, aims to help self-employed writers and visual artists who apply to the Department of Social Protection for Jobseeker’s Allowance. Under the new mechanism, artists meeting a set of criteria will not be subject to the Department of Social Protection’s ‘activation process’ for 12 months.

Speaking this morning, Arts Council Director Orlaith McBride said the pilot was a very welcome signal from the government that the work of artists has a central place in Irish society.

 “This pilot scheme recognises for the first time that artists’ incomes do not follow the same patterns as the majority of people,” Ms McBride said. “Of course we accept Minister Humphreys’ view that this initiative is not a pancea -- and may apply to a relatively small number of artists -- but we are fully committed to working with her and Minister Varadkar over the coming 12 months to monitor and evaluate the initiative, and, we hope, expand and improve it in the years to come.” 

 The Arts Council, the state agency for developing the arts, has for many decades advocated for artists, and has published research demonstrating that artists’ incomes are on average far lower than those of people in almost all other sectors. As part of its remit under the Arts Act (2003), the agency offers advice to the Government on arts-related matters, and has in the past urged, encouraged and initiated enlightened policy, such as the artists’ tax exemption and the creation of Aosdána. 

http://www.artscouncil.ie/News/Arts-Council-welcomes-new-social-welfare-pilot-scheme-for-artists/