Ireland’s basic income for the arts scheme becomes permanent

Ireland is establishing a permanent Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme, providing €325 weekly to 2,000 eligible artists based in the Republic of Ireland in three-year cycles. Launched in Dublin, the initiative aims to reduce artists' need for supplementary work and boost their creative output. The permanent scheme follows a successful pilot program from 2022-2025, which demonstrated reduced financial hardship and increased artistic productivity. A cost-benefit analysis showed the pilot recouped its €72m cost through increased arts-related spending and reduced welfare reliance. The scheme, with an initial budget of €18.27m, will allow artists to receive support for three out of every six years, with applications for the 2026-2029 cycle opening in May.

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