Irish Basic Income scheme attracts interest from Britain

The Irish government’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme (BIA) continues to attract global attention as an innovative approach to supporting the arts. The Performers’ Alliance All-Party Parliamentary Group has invited Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, to London, where Minister Martin will today (Tuesday November 8th) speak to the cross-party collection of UK parliamentarians and union representatives about the ground-breaking pilot scheme.

Minister Martin said;

“The delivery of a Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme has been a key priority for me as Minister, and I’m delighted to be speaking today to the Performers’ Alliance All-Party Parliamentary Group about how we developed and rolled out this pilot. The scheme will measure the impact of a Basic Income-style payment and the research we gather over the next three years will be critical in informing how we support artists and the arts sector into the future. It is exciting that the scheme has been so well-received, both at home and abroad, and I’m extremely proud that Ireland can lead the way in developing innovative approaches to supporting artists and the arts sector”.

The scheme was launched in April this year and attracted over 9,000 applications.  Payments to the 2,000 recipients began last week and the collection of data for the research project has begun. This innovative funding scheme will research the impact of the guaranteed income for 2,000 artists and creative arts workers in Ireland who will receive €325 per week for three years.

Minister Martin added;

“The Green Party has long championed a basic income and we were determined to implement a pilot scheme during our time in government. I’m glad that I could push for that pilot to happen, and to ensure it supported a sector that was badly hit by the impact of Covid restrictions. It is essential that we recognise the value of our artists and ensure that they are supported in continuing to enrich our culture, and the Basic Income for the Arts scheme was the number one recommendation from the Arts and Culture Recovery taskforce. The recognition that other countries may now look to emulate it shows how much potential is has to transform the way we support the arts.”