The government’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme has been made permanent in today’s budget by the Irish government.
The three-year pilot scheme was started in 2022 to provide 2000 artists and creative arts workers with €325 per week to enable artists to have the time to make creative work.
Today, it was announced that the scheme would be made permanent by Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport and a new round of 2000 applicants could apply from September next year.
For now, there is only a vague commitment that the scheme will be expanded for another 2,200 artists “if additional funding can be found.”
9000 people applied to the first round in 2022.
The National Campaign for the Arts welcomed the news saying reiterating the key findings of the recent research report into the scheme. These include:
● BIA helps retain Irish artists in the sector, where 53% face enforced deprivation – three times the national rate.
● Contributes to better mental health: 75% of artists report feeling depressed or downhearted, compared to 34% of the general population
● Provides €1.39 back to the state for every €1 invested
● Supports the creation of 40% more Irish artwork.
The NCFA’s statement:
The introduction of BIA on a permanent basis underscores the premise that government investment in the arts yields myriad positive benefits to society. These include gains in the economy, health, mental wellbeing, education, societal cohesion, diversity, inclusion, creativity, critical thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship, global reputation, and more. Recent data from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport shows that the pilot generated over €100 million in social and economic benefits. Audience engagement alone created around €16.9 million in social value, while improved psychological wellbeing contributed nearly €80 million.
Three years of continuous research linked to the Basic Income for the Arts pilot unequivocally proves the scheme’s positive impact on artists’ productivity and standard of living. With 53% of artists and arts workers facing enforced deprivation, which is three times the rate of the general population, this support is essential. The scheme provides increased financial security, allowing for greater creative freedom and reducing economic precarity. Research shows that BIA recipients are more productive, spending nearly 8 additional hours per week on their creative practice. Recipients spent €22 million on practice-related expenditures, reinvesting on average 40% of their income into their work through equipment, materials, advertising, workspaces, and travel.
The significance of this scheme in addressing broader challenges faced by artists, including the affordability of housing, pensions, and healthcare, along with the need for sustainable career paths within the arts sector, cannot be overlooked. NCFA’s call for the scheme to be placed on a statutory basis is grounded in its proven impact and the clear benefits demonstrated by the pilot. By retaining and expanding this groundbreaking initiative, we can ensure our artists and arts workers continue to enrich national culture while also securing their livelihoods.
The campaign to retain, extend and expand Basic Income for the Arts has been championed by dozens of arts organisations and leaders, spanning six years, with the scheme’s initiation under former Arts Minister Catherine Martin. It has been carried over the line by the dedication of scores of artists who have dedicated days and months of their time to campaign voluntarily at a local and national level. The NCFA has been proud to work alongside our colleagues and collaborators in every county in Ireland in this monumental effort to secure a permanent basic income for the arts.
The NCFA appreciates the perseverance and leadership of Minister Patrick O’Donovan in the creation of this permanent BIA successor scheme. This is a landmark commitment by the government to stabilise precarious working conditions in the arts. Ireland can become a world leader through this unique scheme that ultimately benefits all of society by supporting our continued artistic excellence on the global stage.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
It’s good news but -if it’s the same lottery random selection like the pilot scheme- then it means thousands of worthy artists will be left out again…. Will be interesting to see how they intend to implement the scheme now it’s made permanent ….