Party set to follow Ireland's £14,700-a-year plan

Comedians in Scotland are set to be guaranteed an annual salary of around £15,000 a year if the SNP returns to power in Holyrood, the party has vowed.

In their newly published manifesto ahead of the May 6 elections, the Nationalists say: ‘We believe pursuing a career in the arts and culture should be open to all, but we know that often comes at a considerable cost for equipment and the impact of unpredictable work. 

‘That's why we will pilot a Scottish Artists Minimum Income, learning from the experience in Ireland, to give targeted support to a number of practising artists and creative workers to give them the space to develop their craft, thrive professionally, and contribute to Scotland's cultural life.’

It has been reported that the scheme would be open to writers, musicians, filmmakers, playwrights, comedians and visual artists.

The SNP has not stated how many artists would be supported nor how much they would receive under its plans, only that the Irish scheme – just made permanent after a three-year pilot – would be the model.

There, the ‘basic income for the arts’ initiative gives 2,000 people €350 (£283) a week in three-year cycles – equivalent to just over £14,700 a year.

Applicants must show evidence of a ‘professional artistic practice’, such as previous funding, performances and media coverage. Recipients are then chosen from those who meet the criteria via an ‘anonymised random selection process’. Around 8,000 people applied for the first tranche of funding.

The SNP’s election campaign director Angus Robertson, pictured, said: "The value of our culture is beyond measure, but our artists need backing and the platform to develop their craft and to allow them to take risks.  It is for that reason that our plan to pilot a Scottish artists minimum income scheme is so important to Scotland.

‘We can learn from the experiences of Ireland to deliver targeted support and encourage a generation of artists to flourish… This pilot will give emerging and establish talents the backing they need to thrive and I am proud the SNP will deliver it.’

Performers’ union Equity has been calling for the introduction of a basic income for the arts in Scotland to allow artists to dedicate more time to their creative careers and tackle class privilege in the arts. 

Research has suggested that for every €1 invested by the Irish Government, €1.39 was returned to the economy.

Last week, Scottish Labour unveiled plans for a pilot project to support 1,000 ‘creative entrepreneurs’ with a new weekly payment - but that would be targeted towards artists with ‘promising commercial plans’ rather than simply pursuing their art.

The SNP manifesto also includes a pledge for a £2million fund to help artists present work at Scottish festivals.

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Published: 17 Apr 2026