The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has welcomed the release of the first reports compiled from data collected as part of the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme.

According to the report, BIA recepients say they are more likely to sustain themselves through arts work alone, spending 3.5 hours more on their practices, while also reducing the number of hours they worked in other sectors by 3 hours.

Recepients also spent €450 more on their artistic practices each month, reporting higher levels of life satisfaction as well as lower rates of depression and anxiety.

Just published: Early research findings from Basic Income for the Arts pilot

Improvements in
🟢wellbeing and life satisfaction
🟢time and money spent on artistic practice

+ we have further evidence of the challenges faced each dayhttps://t.co/QxNpSaxGSX pic.twitter.com/zwcy6SkJDh

— Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) December 6, 2023

“I am reassured from the findings, which demonstrate that artists and creative arts workers in receipt of the payment are experiencing less anxiety and depression, spending more time working in their chosen fields, and investing more in their arts career,” said Minister Martin.

“It shows that the scheme has had a positive impact during the first six months of payments and has the potential to transform creative practice.

"Although these initial findings are positive, the reports that we are publishing alongside these also highlight the reality for artists and creative arts workers in Ireland at the moment,” she added.

“They are further evidence of the challenges our artists face on a daily basis and the sacrifices they make to progress their artistic work. It reaffirms the need for a scheme like the Basic Income for the Arts and for the accompanying research that will help in our efforts to support the arts in Ireland to thrive and grow.”