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 on 10th February 2026 allowed for a successor scheme to the BIA pilot which had run from 2022 – February 2026.

Detailed guidelines for the BIA 2026 – 2029 are available here. These include details on the application process.

The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) is for Professional Artists who can demonstrate an active creative practice and whose practice is predominantly based in Ireland. Eligibility criteria for application are set out in the Guidelines.

Objectives

The Artist

• To incentivise the development and growth of professional creative practice through self-employment;
• To counter the earnings instability and precarious nature of working in the arts, and the detrimental effect it has on artists’ mental health;
• To foster artists’ agency and safeguard freedom of expression.

The Sector

• To retain talent in the sector by reducing the need for artists to work outside of the arts for economic reasons;
• To support and expand the sector thanks to spillover effects e.g. hiring of collaborators, expenditure on materials, emergence of new projects etc.

Society and the Public

• To support social cohesion and societal wellbeing by creating more opportunities for citizens to engage in the arts, and to offer a larger selection of artworks and performances to enjoy;
• To recognise the contribution of artists to a pluralistic society, and their contribution to the vibrancy of communities across the nation.

For those who intend to apply for the scheme it is important to note the following:

• The scheme is for professional practicing artists based in Ireland only
• The names of successful applicants will be published
• Annual audits will take place to reconfirm eligibility
• Successful applicants will need to be tax cleared by Revenue and must register as self-employed if they are not already and provide an annual Revenue Form 11 to ensure tax compliance
• Funding for 2,000 applicants is available, it is expected that the number of eligible applicants will exceed that number, therefore eligibility does not confer an entitlement to receive the payment
• Applicants will need to provide three approved proofs of their professional artistic practice in order to demonstrate eligibility

Guidelines for how to apply for the scheme are available here: Basic Income for the Arts Scheme 2026-2029 Guidelines for Application

The window for applications will open at 1pm on Wednesday 15th April. Applicants must read the Guidelines before applying.

A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is available here: Basic Income for the Arts Scheme 2026 – 2029 - FAQ

You can contact the BIA team at basicincomeforthearts@ccs.gov.ie

Basic Income for the Arts Scheme Development

The Programme for Government committed to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. 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 took place in preparation for the 2026 – 2029 scheme. The Public Consultation on the scheme, which was open in August / September 2025 received over 17,000 responses.

Status of the Artist in Ireland Conference 2024

Basic Income for Artists Panel (Conference 27th May 2024, Dublin)

Creative Climate Action Panel (Conference 27th May 2024, Dublin)

Health and Wellbeing Panel (Conference 27th May 2024, Dublin)

Making Space for the Arts Panel (Conference 27th May 2024, Dublin)

You can contact the BIA team at basicincomeforthearts@ccs.gov.ie