Irland plant, ein Grundeinkommen von 1.500 US-Dollar pro Monat für Künstler dauerhaft einzuführen

Ireland first launched its basic income pilot program in 2022, when some 2,000 artists began receiving a weekly stipend of €325, or about $370. Although officials initially scheduled the pilot program to end this August, Patrick O’Donovan, the minister for culture, communications, and sport in Ireland, extended it to February 2026.

Citizens who participated in the pilot program said the payments improved their daily lives. A report published by Ireland’s government in May said the payments reduced financial stress, allowed for professional growth, and boosted mental health.

A government press release this month said the 2026 budget would include a provision to make the country’s Basic Income for the Arts pilot permanent in 2026.

„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 said. „This scheme is the envy of the world, and a tremendous achievement for Ireland, and must be made futureproof and sustainable.“

Maura McGrath, chair of the Arts Council in Ireland, praised the decision in a statement.

„The Arts Council particularly welcomes the continued investment in the Basic Income for the Arts, which provides artists with the stability to develop their practice, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to Ireland’s cultural landscape,“ McGrath said. „We are ambitious for the arts sector and will continue to work with Minister O’Donovan and our Department colleagues advising on the optimisation of opportunities for artists, arts workers and audiences.“

I’m somewhat of an artist myself

Don’t like this, I see this system getting abused…. Make it universal.

I should have paid more attention to my art teacher in school. Sorry Miss whatever your name was, I should have done better.

The speed at which I would splash paint on a canvas for an easy check…

Is formal education required? I can imagine someone being rejected by an art school and getting pretty upset over it. 

Intellectualism in these comments knows no bounds

Front line Subway employees are elated.

Here’s more info about the basic income for artists scheme. It’s all artists so film, dance, theatre too etc. Also, circus. For some reason, designers are excluded.

https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/publications/basic-income-for-the-arts-pilot-scheme-your-questions-answered/

I have more details as an Irishman if you want them:

There is a process you go through for it. It typically involves either a degree in arts, or a semi-professional / high end hobbyist with proof having a life within the arts. This could be going to evening classes, being involved in local art groups, working on community projects etc.

So if you looked at this and assumed people will just wake up tomorrow and call themselves an artist, they have already planned for that too.

It’s also worth noting that €320 a week in Dublin is not the kind of money you can survive on. Rent for a single room within someone else’s house will range from 1150-1600, then around 1650-2000 for a one bedroom apartment for yourself.

The project exists to support, but not fully hold up artists. But with the unstoppable avalanche that is AI art, I really do appreciate their attempt here at ensuring artists continue to exist, and it is one of the very, very few government programs that I am proud of.

That’s awesome