Minister says Basic Income for the Arts scheme will be extended until February 2026

Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan has announced a 6-month extension to the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme.

The prolonging will apply to the 2,000 artists currently participating in the scheme, receiving a weekly payment of €325.

Over a three-year period, the programme is examining the impact of a basic income on artists and creative arts professions.

Minister O’Donovan said the following:

“The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. In order to allow for the preparation of proposals for a new scheme, based on the research and consultation with the sector, I am today announcing a six-month extension of the current scheme."

"I fully appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists and am glad to be able to bring some certainty to those currently on the scheme,” he added.

The extension was welcomed by the National Campaign for The Arts (NCFA), who launched a campaign calling on the government to retain and extend the scheme.

"Basic Income for Artists is a landmark commitment by the government to invest in Ireland's arts industries, highlighting this government's commitment to stabilising the precarious working conditions artists face," commented NCFA Chairperson Maria Fleming.

A recently published interview paper, conducted by an independent researcher, presented the experiences of BIA recipients.

The evidence collected points to consistent and positive impacts on the recipients' lives across multiple indicators.

Artists receiving support through the BIA scheme reported they had more time to focus on their art, produced more pieces of artwork and felt better protected from the uncertainty of incomes in the sector.

Furthermore, they described experiencing both a boost to their wellbeing and greater life satisfaction, as well as reduced anxiety.

At present, the department is working on a report that will examine the first 24 months of the pilot program. Additionally, a cost-benefit analysis report is underway.

The Minister's press statement also said O’Donovan plans to bring proposals for a successor scheme to Cabinet as part of the 2026 Budget.