Sacramento’s Office of Arts and Culture hosts listening session for proposed guaranteed income pilot grant for artists

By Helen Harlan | Solving Sacramento  Large notepads intended for guest feedback line the gates of the Celebration Arts courtyard for the Office of Arts and Culture’s guaranteed income community listening session on Monday, June 10. Helen Harlan, Solving Sacramento Curiosity was in the air when the City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts and Culture hosted dozens of local artists at a guaranteed income community listening session on Monday, June 10 at Celebration Arts.& The event was held to discuss a potential pilot grant program through the OAC that would provide guaranteed income to eligible Sacramento artists.& The evening began with a meet-and-greet in the courtyard where guests enjoyed refreshments and were welcomed by Richard Falcon, a temporary city employee with OAC and founder and president of Teatro Nagual, a Latino-focused theater arts company. Some added written feedback on a series of oversized notepads, which offered various prompts like “What do you want to know about Guaranteed Basic Income?” Jewelry designer and multi-disciplinary artist Omonivie Okhade sat at a picnic table in the shade during the meet-and-greet and said she intends to apply for the program. “Having guaranteed basic income will keep artists in Sacramento,” Okhade said, “And will aid...