The details have been announced for the popular and now-world renowned scheme for the the successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot scheme.
Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD announced the initial pilot scheme will be succeeded by a 3-year cycle with 2000 new applicants.
The details are:
Practicing artists based in the Republic of Ireland will invited to apply for the scheme in the coming months and 2000 eligible artists will be selected to receive the payment of €325 per week.
The monthly payment will last for 3 years and will also feature a tapering-off period of 3 months at the end of the cycle.
In 2022, the first round of artists were awarded in the scheme for three years, after over 9000 people applied for that first round.
Its immediate popularity and success along with glowing coverage from the international media, has lead to it being made permanent.
The scheme places Ireland as leading the way in offering a scheme that covers artists’ basic financial requirements so they are free to create work without the burden of covering rent etc through their art for a set period.
Guidelines outlining details for application, eligibility criteria and proofs will be published in April.
A budget of €18.27m was secured in Budget 2026, and the new BIA will operate in 3-year cycles with artists being eligible for every 3 out of 6 years.
This means that, if selected in 2026 – 2029 for the payment, an artist won’t be eligible for the payment in the next cycle, but may reapply in the cycle following that.
Those who were on the Pilot who meet the eligibility criteria for the new scheme may apply for the BIA in 2026.
The existing pilot winds up this month meaning those receiving the BIA will have to make do without that support and hope that they will receive the funding again in eight ten months time.
The scheme will open for applications in May and these will be assessed over the summer, with payment to selected artists beginning before the end of 2026.
An external cost-benefit analysis found that for every €1 invested in the pilot, society received €1.39 in return.
“I am delighted to be announcing that the new BIA scheme has today been approved by Cabinet and will open for applications in May of this year. This is a major milestone for the arts in Ireland and how we support the arts. I am particularly pleased that the research my Department conducted provided Government with a clear evidence base upon which to make that decision. Ireland is a global leader in the area of artist supports because of the BIA.”
Minister Patrick O’Donovan:
“Basic Income for Artists is a landmark commitment by the government to invest in Ireland’s arts industries, highlighting this government’s commitment to contributing to stabilising the precarious working conditions faced by artists. Ireland can become a world leader through this unique scheme that ultimately benefits the whole of society through supporting our continued artistic excellence on the world stage.
The NCFA cannot ignore the importance of this scheme in addressing the broader challenges faced by artists, including housing affordability and the need for sustainable career paths within the arts sector.
“The introduction of Basic Income for the Arts underscores the premise that Government investment in the arts yields myriad positive benefits to society from economic, health, mental wellbeing, education, societal cohesion, diversity, and inclusion, to creativity, critical thinking, innovation, entrepreneurship, global
reputation and more. We look forward to its implementation and expansion to include all eligible artists and arts workers in the coming years.”
Peter Power, Steering Committee, the NCFA (National Campaign for the Arts):
Research from the pilot scheme collected clear evidence of the consistent, positive impact that the payment has across almost all indicators. Artists in receipt of the support are typically able to:
- devote more time to their art;
- produce more pieces of work;
- experience a boost to their wellbeing through greater life satisfaction
- experience reduced anxiety, and;
- are protected from the precariousness of incomes in the sector to a greater degree than those who are not receiving the support.
Reports on the data collected as part of the Pilot are available here.
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.
