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Minister publishes latest report on Basic Income for the Arts

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 9:43 GMT by RTE Online
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A New Chapter for Irish Artists: Minister Announces the First National Basic‑Income Pilot for the Arts

On 5 September 2025, the Minister for Culture, Sport and Media, Mairead O’Sullivan, released a landmark report outlining a pilot programme that will provide a guaranteed basic income to a selected cohort of Irish artists. The initiative—described in the RTÉ Culture coverage as “the first time the state has formally considered a national, non‑conditional income for creators”—aims to address the long‑standing precarity that has plagued the Irish arts sector. It is the product of an 18‑month research and consultation process that involved the Arts Council of Ireland, the National Lottery Authority, the Irish Film Board, a broad range of professional guilds, and a panel of artists and cultural workers drawn from every discipline and every part of the country.

What the Report Proposes

The core recommendation is a €5,000 a year stipend that would be paid for a minimum of two years to 200 “core artists” selected through a transparent, merit‑based application process. The stipend would be tax‑neutral, meaning that it would be treated as a grant rather than a taxable income. It would also come with a small, optional “co‑funding” component that would allow recipients to match a portion of the grant with private sponsorship or crowdfunding, thereby encouraging artists to build sustainable income streams while the state provides a safety net.

The pilot is slated to begin in 2026, with a review scheduled for 2028 to assess outcomes and potential scaling. The report stresses that the basic‑income scheme would be “non‑conditional” – there would be no requirement to seek employment outside the arts, no mandatory community service, and no performance‑based metrics. It would be entirely aimed at ensuring that creative professionals can live on a modest, predictable income while they focus on producing work.

The report also sets out a framework for measuring success: it will track the number of new works produced, the number of exhibitions, film screenings, performances, and other public‑oriented outputs; it will gauge the financial well‑being of participants through regular surveys; and it will analyse the impact on the wider arts economy through metrics such as secondary spending, tourism attraction, and employment in allied sectors.

Why It Matters

Irish artists have long been exposed to a “gig‑based, project‑by‑project” economy that leaves many without stable income, health insurance or pension coverage. The pandemic exacerbated these vulnerabilities: a 2023 report by the Arts Council found that over 60 % of artists were “under‑employed” or “without a steady source of income.” In that environment, a basic‑income scheme can be seen as a form of “social insurance” for creators, a concept that has gained traction in other European countries. The Minister highlighted that the proposal aligns with the European Union’s 2024 cultural policy roadmap, which encourages Member States to “protect cultural workers from the effects of precarious work” and “invest in the future of creative industries.”

O’Sullivan referenced earlier RTÉ coverage of the “Creative Economy and the Future of Work” conference (held in Dublin in March 2024) where industry experts argued that the arts could benefit from a model similar to the universal basic income experiments in Finland and Canada. The minister said, “Artists are a cornerstone of our national identity and a vital contributor to the economy. They deserve a guarantee that they can survive, create, and thrive.”

The Pilot’s Design and Implementation

The report outlines several structural details:

• Selection Criteria – Applicants will submit a portfolio, a one‑page statement of intent, and a budget that shows how the stipend will support their creative practice. A panel of 12 reviewers, comprising artists from different disciplines and regions, will decide who receives the grant. The panel will also consider “artistic impact” and “community engagement” as part of the assessment.

• Eligibility – The scheme will be open to artists aged 18‑60 who are Irish residents and who have no other state‑funded stipend or grant that totals more than €5,000 per year. Participants must also commit to a minimum of 30 hours per month of professional activity that can be documented.

• Governance – The Irish Arts Council will manage the programme under the oversight of the Minister’s Office. An independent audit board will monitor spending and adherence to policy. The programme will also run a “learning hub” where participants can access mentorship, business‑planning workshops, and health‑insurance advice.

• Funding – The report recommends that the National Lottery Authority earmark €20 million of its 2026‑27 funding cycle for the basic‑income pilot. The state will contribute €15 million, and the remainder will come from private donors and corporate sponsors attracted through a co‑funding model.

• Evaluation – A joint research partnership with Trinity College Dublin’s Institute of Public Policy will conduct annual impact studies, publishing the findings in a public report. Key indicators will include the number of new projects, audience reach, and economic spill‑over.

Connections to Wider Cultural Policy

The RTÉ article linked to a previously published policy brief from the Ministry of Culture titled “Arts and Inclusion: Building a Resilient Creative Sector.” That brief argued that a basic‑income scheme could help diversify the creative workforce by providing entry‑level artists from under‑represented backgrounds with a platform to launch their careers. In that brief, the Ministry emphasised that “financial security is the first step towards creative freedom.”

In addition, the report references the Irish Film Board’s 2024–2026 strategy, which seeks to create “a more inclusive film industry.” The board’s strategy notes that many independent filmmakers struggle to cover basic living costs while seeking to produce high‑quality content. The basic‑income pilot will be a “pilot for filmmakers, musicians, writers, visual artists and designers alike,” thereby integrating the film board’s goals with a broader policy of arts resilience.

Public Response and Next Steps

The Minister held a live Q&A on RTÉ Radio 1 following the announcement. Artists’ unions, notably the Irish Artists’ Association (IAA), welcomed the pilot but urged that the stipend amount be “raised to reflect the cost of living.” They also called for a parallel investment in mental‑health support and flexible workspace solutions.

The Arts Council’s director, Samantha Nolan, said, “We are thrilled to see the state take a bold step towards supporting the creative economy. This is not just a financial lifeline; it is an investment in Ireland’s cultural future.”

The report concludes with a timetable: a call for applications will open in January 2026, with the first cohort announced in March 2026. The Minister pledged that the scheme will be “scalable” – if the pilot demonstrates positive outcomes, the state will consider expanding it to 500 participants over the next five years.

In Summary

RTÉ’s coverage of Minister Mairead O’Sullivan’s latest report reveals a pioneering approach to sustaining Ireland’s creative talent. By proposing a €5,000 yearly basic income for a curated group of artists, the state is acknowledging the unique challenges of the arts sector and offering a tangible solution that is both innovative and grounded in long‑term economic and cultural benefits. The pilot will be closely watched by cultural policymakers worldwide, as it could signal a new era where creative work is protected by state‑backed financial security, ensuring that Ireland’s artistic voice continues to flourish for generations to come.