Ireland Passes Law Making Artist Basic Income Program Permanent

After over three years of positive results, the Irish government will make its Basic Income for the Arts program permanent beginning in 2026. Initially, there will be enough funding for 2,000 recipients, and the government has suggested expanding the program if more funds are made available.

The program:

• Approved artists will receive €325 (around $377) a week.

• Applications are set to open sometime in 2026.

• Criteria for applicants has not been shared as of this writing.

• The pilot program welcomed applicants in “visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus, and architecture.”

• Ireland launched the pilot to support artists after the pandemic.

• The pilot led to “€100 million in socio-economic benefits.”

What they said:

• Patrick O'Donovan, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media of Ireland: “The positive economic impact this report has revealed is a very encouraging outcome for the sector and the general public. The economic return on this investment in Ireland’s artists and creative arts workers is immediately having a positive impact for the sector and the economy overall.”