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 Pilot Scheme (2022 – 2026).

Basic Income for the Arts Update

Engagement with the Irish arts sector in the form of a Stakeholder Forum took place on September 10, 2025 and was attended by 250 artists and arts sector representatives. Other Consultative processes are also underway. The Public Consultation on the scheme, which was open in August / September 2025 received over 17,000 responses.

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.

Basic Income for the Arts Pilot Research Scheme 2022 - 2026