Basic Income for the Arts

The primary objective of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme is to help artists deal with precarious incomes and to prevent them from leaving the sector for economic reasons.

A Government decision will be required on a successor scheme to the pilot which will conclude in February 2026.

Basic Income for the Arts Update

Consultation has begun on the development of proposals for a successor scheme to the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme (2022 – 2026).

Link to ONLINE PUBLIC CONSULTATION – please make your views known

Consultation with stakeholders in the Irish Arts Sector will take place over Q3 and Q4 2025.

The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. Government recently agreed to an extension of six months to the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot to allow for further evaluation of the data, and the pilot scheme will now conclude in February 2026. This will also give sufficient time to engage in stakeholder consultation and to evaluate the data which will provide the evidence base for Government to make decisions on the next steps.