The National Campaign for the Arts has announced an online meeting on Wednesday, June 19 to retain and expand the Basic Income for the Arts scheme.

The meeting, which will take place from 12pm to 1pm, will offer artists and arts workers a chance to organise and get involved in the campaign to extend the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme past its current August, 2025 expiration.

 

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The announcement comes just weeks after a government-commissioned report confirmed that the BIA pilot had a "consistent, positive impact" on artists' financial stability, mental health and creative output. Despite these findings, Minister for Arts Patrick O'Donovan has stopped short of committing to the scheme’s continuation, stating he will "evaluate the data" before bringing proposals to Government.

The BIA scheme, which began in 2022, currently provides €325 per week to 2,000 randomly selected artists. Many artists in the sector have called for clarity on its future.

The upcoming online meeting aims to mobilise the arts community and ensure that momentum behind the campaign is sustained as the Government considers next steps.

Interested participants can register for the online meeting here.