Ireland Is Making Basic Income for Artists Permanent

Sports October 21, 2025 0 Comments

Ireland Is Making Basic Income for Artists Permanent

Making a living as an artist can be difficult, but Ireland is setting a new standard in supporting those in creative professions. After a successful experiment, the country plans to make it Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) It begins permanently in 2026. The Think Forward Initiative will provide 2,000 artists and creative arts workers based in Ireland with a weekly payment of approximately €325 (about $375), giving them the stability to focus on innovation and creativity without financial constraints.

The pilot program was launched in 2022 to help revive the arts sector after the pandemic, when many creatives faced severe financial setbacks with the cancellation of live performances and events. The program has been extended for six months until the end of February 2026, and is now set to become permanent. Artists who participated in the pilot say the BIA has made a real difference, giving them more freedom and stability to focus on their creative work.

“It’s so huge,” says Dublin-based artist Elinor O’Donovan, who participated in the three-year pilot He said. “It has been transformative for my business, and my overall well-being.”

During the pilot phase, artists from a wide range of disciplines were eligible to apply, including those working in the visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus arts and architecture. However, the new permanent program will expand further, welcoming applicants from more creative fields. The next application window is scheduled to open in September 2026, with broader eligibility designed to include more artists from diverse backgrounds.

To date, the pilot project has cost the Irish government €72 million (nearly $84 million) but has generated nearly €80 million (just over $93 million) in economic benefits. A A report from UK-based consultancy Alma Economics It found that artists participating in the program earned, on average, more than €500 (about $582) per month from their creative work. With this income, artists can not only cover their basic needs, but they can also invest in their projects, such as purchasing supplies, marketing their artwork, and growing their creative business over time. The report showed that participants also became less dependent on social support, receiving approximately 100 euros (about $116) per month in government aid.

Ireland’s comprehensive economic impact assessment shows how transformative a universal basic income can be, and gives hope that more countries will follow suit. “As the pilot shows, basic income works and people need universal basic income now to confront and respond to the many social, economic and environmental crises in our world,” the UBI Labs Network said in a statement. statement. “The network will continue to help demonstrate basic income within communities and show how it is a sustainable policy.”

Find out more about Basic Income for the Arts in Ireland and how you can apply Citizens information website.