Ireland has made history by becoming the first country in the world to establish a permanent basic income scheme for artists. The groundbreaking program will provide €325 (£283) per week to 2,000 artists in three-year cycles, fundamentally changing how society values creativity.

A Gigantic Step Forward

Culture Minister Patrick O'Donovan announced the permanent Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme at a launch event in Dublin on February 10th, calling it "a gigantic step forward that other countries are not doing."

"For the first time in the history of the state we now have, on a permanent basis, a basic income structure that will really revolutionise and, in many ways, set Ireland apart from other countries with regard to how we value culture and creativity," O'Donovan said.

From Pilot to Permanent

The permanent scheme builds on a successful pilot program that ran from 2022 to 2025, helping artists during COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns. While New York and San Francisco ran similar pilots, Ireland is the first to make the program permanent nationwide.

In the pilot, 2,000 artists were randomly selected from 8,000 applicants. The results were transformative:

  • Lower deprivation: Artists experienced less enforced hardship
  • Reduced anxiety: Financial stability improved mental health
  • More time creating: Less time trapped in unrelated jobs
  • Increased self-sufficiency: Many became better able to sustain themselves through their art

It Actually Pays for Itself

Perhaps most remarkably, a government-commissioned cost-benefit analysis found that the scheme recouped more than its net cost of €72 million through:

  • Increases in arts-related expenditure
  • Productivity gains
  • Reduced reliance on other welfare payments

"This is a real-world test of what happens when people are given stability instead of precarity," said Peter Power of the National Campaign for the Arts steering committee. "Artists on the scheme spent more time creating and less time trapped in unrelated jobs just to survive, and many became better able to sustain themselves through their work alone."

How It Works

The permanent scheme, with an initial budget of €18.27 million (£16 million), operates in three-year cycles:

  • Who: 2,000 eligible artists based in the Republic of Ireland
  • How much: €325 per week (supplementary income)
  • Duration: 3 years per cycle
  • Eligibility: Artists can receive support for 3 out of every 6 years (must skip one cycle between participations)
  • Selection: Randomly selected from applicants

Guidelines will be published in April 2026, with applications opening in May. Payments for the 2026-29 cycle begin in September 2026 and continue through September 2029.

Beyond Money: The Ripple Effects

Jenny Dagg, a Maynooth University sociologist who studied the scheme, called it "a win for all," noting broader societal benefits:

  • Economic activity: A more vibrant arts sector boosts the economy
  • Mental wellbeing: Art improves community mental health
  • Critical thinking: Creative culture enhances society's ability to think critically
  • Innovation: Stable artists drive cultural and social innovation

The Artist's Reality

While the scheme is groundbreaking, Dagg notes that €325 per week is supplementary income – artists still need other sources to fully support themselves. And like many young people in Ireland, artists still face a severe cost of living crisis, with Dublin rents doubling since 2013.

But the program represents something profound: society choosing to value creativity as essential work, not a luxury hobby.

A Model for the World?

Ireland's bold move could inspire similar programs globally. The data is clear: when you give artists financial stability, they create more, contribute more to the economy, and society benefits in countless ways.

O'Donovan expressed hope that the scheme would expand beyond its initial 2,000 participants. "This is a start," he said.

💡 Why this matters: In a world increasingly automated by AI, human creativity becomes more valuable, not less. Ireland is betting on its artists – and the data shows it's a smart investment.

The Bigger Picture

The BIA scheme joins a growing global conversation about basic income, the value of creative work, and how society can support essential but traditionally precarious professions. It proves that investing in artists isn't charity – it's smart economics wrapped in cultural enrichment.

As Peter Power put it: artists given stability "spent more time creating and less time trapped in unrelated jobs just to survive." When we free people to do what they do best, everyone wins.

Sources: The Guardian | Irish Government | Maynooth University Research