Photo by Sebastiaan Stam
Ireland’s government has confirmed plans to permanently implement its Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme in 2026, providing financial support to more than 2,000 artists, creative workers, and musicians. Participants will receive €325 a week, paid monthly, with applications set to open in September 2026.
The scheme, initially piloted in 2022, was designed to address the financial instability faced by those working in the arts. According to the Irish government, the pilot was successful in reducing financial stress and allowing participants to dedicate more time to their creative work. Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Culture, described the move as “a tremendous achievement for Ireland” and emphasized the importance of making the initiative sustainable for the future.
“The Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme, which I extended this year, will end in 2026, and I will bring a successor scheme to Government with the intention of embedding a permanent basic income in the Arts and Culture sector,” O’Donovan shared in an official press statement.
The announcement forms part of Ireland’s 2026 Arts and Culture Programme, which aims to foster creativity, promote engagement in the arts, and enhance the country’s night-time economy. Alongside the permanent BIA scheme, the government has pledged €1m to the Grassroots Music Venue Support scheme, doubling the 2025 allocation to bolster independent music venues and artists nationwide. Applications for the scheme will open in the first half of 2026.
