This Country Establishes Permanent Income Plan to Support Working Artists

Artists in Ireland will receive guaranteed weekly payments under a new permanent basic income programme, giving creative workers greater financial stability and more time to focus on their art.

“It’s a fundamental change, it makes the architecture of being a secure citizen available to artists,” said Peter Power, artist and steering committee member of the National Campaign for the Arts.

The scheme will support 2,000 artists with weekly stipends of €325 for three years, following a pilot launched in 2022 that attracted more than 8,000 applicants and showed participants produced more creative work while reporting improved wellbeing and professional sustainability.