I'm happy for the Irish artists! Their government actually has a "Department of Culture," unlike the US. But, if by some miracle, our government provided a basic income to artists, I'd use part of it to support poets by buying their books and attending poetry workshops. I also love the idea of a artist's co-op: a place where creatives could freely gather, draw inspiration from each other, and work on artistic collaborations.
This reminds me of the federal art projects during the Great Depression, which supported thousands of artists and writers including now-famous ones like Jackson Pollock, Jacob Lawrence, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston, Saul Bellow, and John Cheever. What they produced with that government support was crucial and long-lasting.
I'm happy for the Irish artists! Their government actually has a "Department of Culture," unlike the US. But, if by some miracle, our government provided a basic income to artists, I'd use part of it to support poets by buying their books and attending poetry workshops. I also love the idea of a artist's co-op: a place where creatives could freely gather, draw inspiration from each other, and work on artistic collaborations.
That's my dream--to create a space where artists can create/co-create in support and comfort.
I never dream about the government giving me things for free --- but good for Ireland.
This reminds me of the federal art projects during the Great Depression, which supported thousands of artists and writers including now-famous ones like Jackson Pollock, Jacob Lawrence, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston, Saul Bellow, and John Cheever. What they produced with that government support was crucial and long-lasting.