After inspiration from the Irish Universal Basic Income for Artists Would the Red Green Party introduce a pilot scheme they call the State Basic Income for Artists.

Specifically, this will mean that young artists should have a sort of starting salary when they finish their education. The salary should be equivalent to the SU [student grant], i.e. 7,500 Danish kroner per month, unless they earn enough to support themselves, explains Zenia Stampe in Politiken.

“They should have some form of start-up salary, because they obviously can't just enter into paid employment like most others who take an education. They have to establish themselves and try to set up their own business and make a name for themselves,” says the party's culture spokesperson Zenia Stampe.

Sara Indrio, chairwoman of the Danish Artists' Federation, welcomes the political focus on artists' finances:

“I am happy to see the political interest in the artists” economic conditions. We have missed that focus in the election campaign – and in cultural policy altogether. There is plenty of documentation for the value that artists and musicians create, but nevertheless, artists often stand alone and without a safety net. The Danish Artists' Union supports initiatives that can make music and performing arts a career path for more young people from all walks of life, and that it becomes part of the new government's platform. We believe it is obvious to draw inspiration from how the Irish initiative has contributed to artists' conditions as well as the Irish economy and cultural scene, but we lack dialogue and knowledge about how to implement the proposal in Denmark, which already has well-functioning unemployment systems compared to Ireland," says Sara Indrio.

The proposal from the Radical Left party is inspired by the Irish initiative BIA – Basic Income For Artists, which was permanently introduced last year following a trial period that showed promising results for artists' work and health, as well as for society's economy and cultural offerings.

In the BIA, an Irish artist can apply to receive €1400 per month, equivalent to around 10,500 Danish kroner, if they meet a number of criteria. Around 2000 artists from across all art forms, who were selected by lottery after the qualifying round, were granted the basic income last year.

You can read more about Basic Income For Artists here.

A similar model in Denmark needs to be investigated

Sara Indrio, chair of the Danish Artists' Union, would like to explore further how Irish experiences can be applied in Denmark.

“The scheme is interesting because the reporting on the trial period for the scheme in Ireland showed that, in addition to increased well-being and creative output among artists, there is also greater earning potential for their work, as well as more reinvestments and sales of cultural experiences. We are available to discuss what a basic income scheme for artists could look like in a Danish context,” says Sara Indrio, adding that it is exciting to see what a model for basic income for artists could look like nationally.

Radikale Venstre published a cultural policy proposal on 18 March, which you can read here.

Read the full analysis of the Irish ‘Basic Income for the Arts’ scheme from 2025 here.