Press release
Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Scheme - Report on the Public Consultation published
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, today published a report on the public consultation she held in January 2022 on the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme.
The purpose of the public consultation was to ensure the general public, artists and those working in the arts and culture sector could contribute to the policy development for the Basic Income for the Arts pilot on key issues such as the objectives, eligibility criteria and how to support emerging artists.
Speaking today, the Minister said:
“I welcome the insightful contributions made by the public, artists and stakeholders in the arts and culture sector as part of this public consultation. This is a once in a generation policy intervention and stakeholder consultation is critical to the delivery of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot scheme that works for the sector.”
The online public consultation received 1,269 responses while it was open during January 2022.
The report contains the outcomes of the consultation process.
Almost 90% of the submissions were from artists and creative arts workers, with a further 4% submitted by organisations, and 7% by members of the public.
The responses to the consultation were largely positive and support the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme as proposed. The views of respondents have provided useful inputs for the Minister as the details of the pilot scheme are being finalised.
Minister Martin added:
“I have secured the government’s commitment for a three year basic income pilot scheme for the arts and to that end I have allocated €25 million for 2022 to launch the scheme. My officials and I are currently finalising the details of the scheme which I hope will provide a key support for artists and creative arts workers as we emerge from the pandemic.
“We need to firmly grasp this opportunity which could help to elevate the arts, and the skilled workforce within the sector.”
The Minister will launch details of the scheme shortly. Guidelines for the scheme will be made available in the coming weeks once feedback from the consultation has been taken into account in the pilot’s final design.
The online public consultation followed a stakeholder forum, hosted by the Minister, which took place on 15 December 2021.
That forum saw over 150 participants from 50 artists and arts workers resource and representative bodies come together to discuss the proposal and provide their views and feedback to the Minister and her department.