Inside the coalition pushing guaranteed income for local artists

How many artists and musicians would stay in St. Pete if their bills were paid?

That’s the question fueling St. Pete Supports Arts, a coalition of creators seeking some form of guaranteed basic income from the city. 

The group’s lead organizer, Rissa Wray, is in the process of modeling its proposal for city leaders. Much of the research she’s done so far is based on San Francisco’s guaranteed income program, which includes an arts fund currently in its pilot stage.

Since May, the California city has been awarding $1,000 monthly payments to 100 artists whose work is “rooted in a historically marginalized community.” St. Pete Supports Arts has a slightly different goal, but takes the same approach.

Living costs in St. Pete are rising quickly, and self-employed artists are being priced out of an area that takes outspoken pride in its creative citizens. James Oleson, an artist known for the volcano sculpture in St. Pete’s Warehouse District, moved away last year due to “financial stress.”

Wray wants to ensure folks like Oleson can stick around and keep contributing to the community. “When the arts flourish, the city flourishes,” she said. 

The guaranteed income idea is still in its infant stages, and while city council members Darden Rice and Robert Blackmon both seemed open to the concept in prior meetings with Wray, other city leaders are skeptical. 

Wayne Atherholt, director of cultural affairs for the Mayor’s office, thinks singling out one group for financial support would be unfair to other struggling professionals. Funding would also be an issue, he explained, saying “the city can’t levy a tax for artist income.” 

“If I sat down with the group, I would explain what we have done and how far we have come, and that we’ve invested more in the arts than any other administration,” he said.

Most recently, the city-funded St. Petersburg Arts Alliance worked as one of three groups heading the Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund, which dispersed nearly $100,000 to over 100 artists during the height of the pandemic. 

Terry Marks, CEO of the Arts Alliance, cited these figures when asked about guaranteed income for artists, implying the city and county have already provided ample resources for struggling creatives.

Marks also noted the Arts Alliance funds multiple grant opportunities, as well as summer programs for underprivileged students pursuing art. Members of St. Pete Supports Arts are aware of this funding, but believe grants and their application processes are both tedious and inefficient.

Monica DeChaine, mural tour guide and healing artist, says grant applications are “intimidating,” and the time and energy it takes to fill them out distracts from the creative process.

“I don’t have the strength in applying for things; I have the strength in creating,” DeChaine said in a video provided by St. Pete Supports Arts. 

“There’s a lot of stipulations on what you can use (grants) for, and then you have to prove that you need it for that reason and that you use it for that reason,” Wray said. “It’s a lot of oversight and a lot of wasted time.”

St. Pete Supports Arts plans to present guaranteed income as a tool for empowerment. Artists would qualify once and use the funds wherever needed, whether it be for art supplies, food, utilities, etc.

“When you know that your utilities are going to be covered for the next 18 months, that provides a lot of psychological stability and helps you increase your wealth,” Wray explained.

St. Pete Supports Arts is studying the concept in partnership with the Center for Guaranteed Income Research and Mayors for Guaranteed Income. Both organizations advocate for local guaranteed income programs.

Wray’s coalition has been working with both organizations to develop its proposal. The advocate says her group has more work to do, and will be meeting with city leaders and community members over the next few months to forge a next step.

The group will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 7 at Hawthorne Bottle Shop to discuss the guaranteed income proposal. Local artists are welcome.