In a landmark move for cultural policy, Ireland has confirmed that its Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) program will become permanent in 2026. Around 2,000 artists and creative professionals will continue to receive a weekly stipend of €325 (approximately ₹32,000), providing stable support to sustain their creative practices.
The BIA began as a three-year pilot in 2022 under then-Minister for Culture Catherine Martin. Introduced to help revive the arts sector in the aftermath of the pandemic, the program offered eligible artists unconditional income for three years. It has since been credited with reducing financial vulnerability, increasing time spent on creative work, and improving mental health among recipients.
Current Culture Minister Patrick O’Donovan confirmed the program’s inclusion in Ireland’s 2026 national budget, alongside a plan to expand eligibility to more disciplines such as architecture, design, and new media art. The next round of applications will open in September 2026. A public consultation in October 2025 showed overwhelming support for the policy, with 97 percent of respondents—both artists and the general public—backing its continuation.
Officials and arts bodies praised the move as an international model for equitable cultural funding. Maura McGrath, chair of the Arts Council of Ireland, described the BIA as a “futureproof investment in cultural infrastructure,” while the government has called it a “tremendous achievement” and “the envy of the world”.
The BIA is not a means-tested welfare program but a recognition of the intrinsic role of art in society. It allows artists to focus on their practice without the volatility of freelance income. Evaluations have shown that recipients invested approximately €550 more per month into their creative work compared with before the scheme.
As Ireland prepares to transition from pilot to policy, its arts funding model stands as a bold alternative to traditional grant-based systems. For Indian policymakers and cultural institutions, the BIA offers a case study in long-term creative economy investment—placing artistic labour at the center of national growth and cultural identity.
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