A new guaranteed income initiative is handing out $850 monthly checks for artists in what’s being hailed as a first-of-its-kind program in the U.S.
If you’re in the creative field and based in Sacramento, California, you could be one of 200 lucky recipients set to receive these no-strings-attached payments every month for an entire year. That’s right, twelve months of guaranteed cash from a $2 million fund, and all you have to do is complete a 30-minute form.
This fresh funding is part of Sacramento’s Creative Growth Fellowship Program, designed to support local artists who were financially hit during the COVID pandemic. And it’s not limited to painters or poets, musicians, dancers, theater professionals, and creatives across the board are eligible. The initiative is described as a first for the city and possibly the country, making it a landmark moment for artist support in the U.S.
The application process isn’t complicated, but there’s a big catch, you can only submit one. Mess it up or try to game the system by submitting more than once, and you’re out. The good news? You can save your progress and come back to it before submitting. But once it’s in, it’s final, no edits allowed. There’s even an online session planned for May 19 where officials will walk you through the application process, and the official start date to submit applications kicks off in June.
Those selected will start receiving their checks on June 15, 2025, and the payments will continue until July 2026. You don’t have to worry about paying anything back at the end either. The money will be delivered via debit card or directly deposited into a special bank account set up for the program.
Locals are already singing the program’s praises. One Sacramento artist, Katy Karns, told CBS’s local affiliate she thinks it’s an “incredible idea,” and many others have echoed that support, especially those whose gigs dried up during the pandemic. The city had previously rolled out another guaranteed income program for low-income families with children under five, offering $725 per month. These payments went to people under 200% of the federal poverty level, and the success of that initiative helped spark this new $850 check plan specifically for artists.
Guaranteed income programs have been gaining steam across the U.S., especially after the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan pumped money into local governments in 2021. Cities started experimenting with monthly payouts to support struggling populations without the usual bureaucratic hoops, no job requirement, no drug testing, no endless paperwork. These programs aim to offer stability while encouraging people to work without fear of losing benefits if they make “too much” money.
It’s not just Sacramento making waves. Back in 2022, Los Angeles rolled out the Breathe program, which gave 1,000 randomly selected residents $1,000 monthly payments for three years. These types of pilot programs are proving to be powerful examples of how guaranteed income can help bridge the gap for people living paycheck to paycheck.
But not everyone is on board. States like Texas and Iowa are pushing hard against guaranteed income efforts, with some Republican leaders attempting to block major spending proposals that would support these programs long-term. Critics argue that such plans are too costly and risk making people reliant on government money instead of working toward financial independence. Still, the success stories and ongoing demand suggest these initiatives aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
So, if you’re an artist in Sacramento, now’s your moment. Mark your calendar for the application launch in June, and don’t miss the online info session on May 19. With $850 checks coming in every month for a year, that’s a huge relief and a real chance to breathe financially, especially for creatives who’ve been overlooked in traditional funding models.
Just remember: one application only. Get it right the first time, and you could be looking at a full year of guaranteed income from a $2 million pot designed just for people like you.
