The public is being asked for its views on the future of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, Culture Minister Patrick O’Donovan has announced.
Speaking today, the Fine Gael Minister launched a nationwide consultation on the pilot programme, which has been running since August 2022.
The consultation can be viewed here.
In 2022 the Department held a similar consultation on the same scheme, which received a total of 1,269 submissions. Almost 90% of the submissions were received by artists and creative arts workers, with a further 4% submitted by organisations and 7% by members of the public
“I encourage the sector and the wider public to engage with the consultation,” he said.
“I look forward to suggestions, as they will inform our approach.”
The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) is a research initiative which currently provides €325 per week to 2,000 artists in order to support their creative work. The Department says the aim is to reduce precarious incomes and prevent talent from leaving the arts sector for economic reasons.
According to the Department, evidence gathered so far indicates that the payment is having a consistent positive effect on recipients. Officials say it has benefitted practice development, sectoral retention, well-being and levels of deprivation.
The consultation invites submissions from members of the public, advocacy organisations and other stakeholders. It will run from August 12th to September 5th, with the Government to make a decision on whether to create a successor scheme once the pilot ends in February 2026.
Reports on the impact of the pilot so far have been published on the Department’s website.
The BIA pilot was launched in response to recommendations from the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce in 2020, which called for measures to address financial instability among artists.
Similar guaranteed income schemes have been trialled internationally, including in the United States, Canada, and Finland.