Basic Income for Artists Programs: Who Are the Artists?

This paper examines the complex question of “who is an artist” within the context of Basic Income for Artists (BIA) programs, drawing on data from the Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) Guaranteed Income for Artists (GIA) initiative. While traditional federal data sources, like the U.S. Census Bureau, rely on rigid occupational classifications, these often fail to capture the diverse realities of artistic labor. By analyzing data from over 20,000 GIA applicants and 2300 participants alongside Current Population Survey (CPS) data, we identify significant gaps in how artists are defined and recognized. The findings reveal that federal data underrepresents artists from marginalized communities and less commercially oriented disciplines. Through comparative analysis and Monte Carlo simulations, the study highlights the limitations of existing statistical frameworks and the inclusivity achieved by programs like CRNY's GIA program. The paper underscores the need for flexible, multidimensional criteria in policy design to support the broad spectrum of artistic identities and practices.