Starting in September 2026, the Irish government has announced that it will permanently implement a basic income scheme to support over 2,000 artists, creatives and musicians.
The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme was piloted in 2022, but will now become permanent under the 2026 Budget, secured by Minister for Culture, Patrick O’Donovan.
"I will bring a successor scheme to government with the intention of embedding a permanent basic income in the arts and culture sector," O’Donovan said. "This scheme is the envy of the world, and a tremendous achievement for Ireland, and must be made futureproof and sustainable."
It aims to support creative workers and “address the financial instability faced by many working in the arts”, by encouraging artists to apply for a weekly allowance of €325, which will be paid monthly.
A control group was analysed in 2022 through the pilot, to discover how the grant impacted participants, with many reporting reduced financial stress and increased time spent on creative work.
Though initially planned to accommodate 2,000 artists, RTE has said that the scheme could support another 200 if additional funds are made available, and could grow even bigger in the years ahead.
Find out more about the BIA scheme here.