Following the launch of the online public consultation on the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme earlier this year, a report about the responses has been published by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, today.

The public consultation offered the general public, artists and those working in the arts and culture sector a chance to contribute to the policy development for the Basic Income for the Arts pilot, covering key issues like objectives, eligibility criteria and how to support emerging artists.

“I welcome the insightful contributions made by the public, artists and stakeholders in the arts and culture sector as part of this public consultation," Minister Martin comments. "This is a once in a generation policy intervention and stakeholder consultation is critical to the delivery of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot scheme that works for the sector.”

The online public consultation received 1,269 responses while it was open during January 2022. Almost 90% of the submissions were from artists and creative arts workers, with a further 4% submitted by organisations, and 7% by members of the public.

According to today's report, responses to the consultation were largely positive, and support the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme as proposed. The views of those who took part in the online consultation have also "provided useful inputs for the Minister as the details of the pilot scheme are being finalised."

“I have secured the Government’s commitment for a three year basic income pilot scheme for the arts and to that end I have allocated €25m for 2022 to launch the scheme," Minister Martin resumes. "My officials and I are currently finalising the details of the scheme which I hope will provide a key support for artists and creative arts workers as we emerge from the pandemic.

“We need to firmly grasp this opportunity which could help to elevate the arts, and the skilled workforce within the sector.”

Guidelines for the scheme will be made available in the coming weeks, once feedback from the consultation has been taken into account in the pilot's final design.

The online public consultation followed a stakeholder forum, which took place in December 2021. The forum saw over 150 participants from 50 artists and arts workers resource and representative bodies come together to discuss the proposal, and provide their views and feedback to the Minister and her Department.

The Basic Income for the Arts public consultation report is available to read here.