Ms Anna Walsh:

We urge the committee to consider the initial results of the pilot scheme for basic income for the arts. That musicians and artists get one third less pay compared to all other workers, as identified in First Music Contact and Theatre Forum's most recent pay and conditions survey, suggests the roll-out of basic income for the arts is a necessity if artists and musicians are to emerge from their first local encounters with the arts and go on to have sustainable careers in and working with our communities.