SELECT Americans are getting monthly payments worth hundreds of dollars soon if they took swift action this summer.
The money comes as part of a unique initiative, and only three requirements must’ve been met to qualify for the cash.
Artists can get financial assistance thanks to a new program (stock image)[/caption]
It comes thanks to the Creative Growth Fellowship Program from the Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) in Sacramento County, California.
Officials designed the program for 200 artists across multiple disciplines living within Sacramento to help boost their careers.
Initial distributions of $850 from the “first-of-its-kind” program start going out to eligible candidates on September 1, 2025, and last for 12 months.
Each candidate therefore gets $10,200 over the payment period.
That also means a collective total of $2.04 million is being sent out.
Unfortunately, the application deadline for the guaranteed income program already passed on June 20 after opening on June 2, and there’s currently “no plans for a future second round.”
Artists were required to answer some written prompts in the application process and upload examples of their work.
The reviewing process began on June 21 and remains ongoing until August 31, where the 200 will be selected and notified by staff at the OAC.
ELIGIBILITY
First of the three qualifications the prospective applicants must have met included being a resident of the City of Sacramento at the time of submission.
A search tool helped confirm whether or not an address was within city limits.
Proof of residency showing this within the last 60 days was also required.
Secondly, they must’ve been 18 or older to apply.
And lastly, artists must’ve been creating within a list of of the following 13 disciplines.
- Craft
- Dance
- Design
- Film
- Literary arts
- Music
- Oral traditions
- Social practice
- Theater
- Performance art
- Traditional arts
- Visual arts
- Interdisciplinary arts
How does Guaranteed Income work?
Guaranteed Income and Universal Basic Income programs have taken off in popularity recently.
After the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan of 2021 sent stimulus money to local governments, dozens began testing guaranteed income (GI) systems.
The specifics vary, but GI typically involves payouts to people with low incomes. Unlike traditional welfare, there are no job requirements, drug tests, or other strings attached.
Some have pushed for a Universal Basic Income (UBI), which would go to everyone regardless of how much money they make at work. Alaska has used a similar system since the 1970s.
Proponents say this alleviates poverty while incentivizing work, unlike classic welfare, which cuts benefits from people who begin earning “too much” money to qualify.
Opponents argue such a system is too expensive to function on a large scale and suggest Americans should avoid becoming reliant on government money.
With some cities heralding the success of GI programs, some Republican-led states have moved to ban them. States like Texas and Iowa, for example, have undermined major spending plans by pushing against GI.
More details can be found on a web page dedicated to the Creative Growth Fellowship Program.
SIMILAR ASSISTANCE
Minnesota is another state offering financial assistance to artists.
Designed by non-profit Springboard for the Arts, the Guaranteed Income for Artists Pilot was first launched in 2020.
It had a successful run helping 75 artists for 18 months who lived within two neighborhoods outside the city of Saint Paul.
The program has since been extended to 100 artists, who are still getting $500 checks every month this year.
Springboard for the Arts reported in a press release that most participants were using the money for “critical needs.”
At least 36% was spent on essential services, 30% on food, and 10% on housing.
“When artists can focus more on their work, families, art, and their community instead of worrying about basic needs, everyone benefits,” Laura Zabel, executive director at Springboard for the Arts, emphasized in a statement.
Another universal basic income program in a US state is sending out $177 “summer” payments.
Stimulus checks worth $1,000 are also set to go out to some families as part of an “abundant” program.
