San Francisco is giving up to $1,000 a month to more than 100 artists

by Alexandra Kelley | March 26, 2021 | Mar. 26, 2021

Story at a glance

Mayor London Breed announced a new program to help subsidize the city’s artists.
San Francisco artists helped bring in $1.45 billion to the city’s total income prior to the pandemic.

As sibling city Oakland pilots its first guaranteed income program, San Francisco announced the launch of its own universal basic income initiative. This one focuses on helping the city’s artist residents working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor London Breed (D) confirmed the launch of the pilot last night.

Now accepting applications for our new guaranteed income pilot program for artists in San Francisco!

$1,000/month for six months for more than 100 eligible artists.

Learn more about the program and apply by April 15: https://t.co/WgrFfdSX1y pic.twitter.com/MuVZoC45c4

— London Breed (@LondonBreed) March 25, 2021

Artists working and living in San Francisco generated about $1.45 billion in economic activity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, per city data.

The program will be run through the Office of Racial Equity at the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

Applications for qualifying candidates opened on March 25 and can apply through April 15. Under the program, 130 eligible adult artists will be given $1,000 following a review process. The exact amount of funds allocated to each applicant will vary depending on household dependents filed on individual tax returns.

“The arts are truly critical to our local economy and are an essential part of our long-term recovery. If we help the arts recover, the arts will help San Francisco recover,” Breed said. “This new program is an innovative effort to help our creative sector get through this challenging time, and come back even stronger and more resilient than before.”