For immediate release:
Press Release / Preasráiteas – June 3 Meitheamh 2025
Basic Income Ireland welcomes the new report showing how the Basic Income for the Arts scheme ‘is significantly reducing financial anxiety and increases time for creative pursuits… recipients report greater artistic autonomy, self-efficacy and validation.’ We also welcome the comments from Minister O’Donovan (Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media) about how it is delivering a ‘consistent and positive impact’. We note that while the Minister’s comments refer to artists (within his remit), they would also apply to all sections of society.
We call for the immediate and full implementation of a Universal and Unconditional Basic Income in Ireland.
We have set out a model for how this could be done quickly within our current system, at no net cost to the public purse.
Bobby Lambert, Joint Co-ordinator at Basic Income Ireland, says: Our key message is that this is a great idea, we can afford it and we can do it now. Under this model, all of us will benefit socially, 6 out of 7 people will benefit financially, with those on the highest incomes paying very little extra. https://basicincome.ie/quinn-baker-paper-november-2023/.
Within his remit as Minister, we call on the Minister to lead the way by extending the artists scheme to all artists, as a step towards providing Basic Income for everyone.
The overall findings of the report are:
- Providing a basic income for the arts significantly impacts the subjective experience of financial uncertainty in the lives of recipients.
- Reduced anxiety around making ends meet has increased time as a resource for creative pursuits.
- Increased time for creative pursuits has resulted in greater artist autonomy – greater ability to plan and navigate their own creative paths.
- Recipients articulate greater self-efficacy. They feel validated, empowered and confident to exert personal agency within their creative profession and their broader social relationships.
We welcome the comments by Minister O’Donovan:
“This research shows that the impact of the basic income is far-ranging and affects all aspects of recipients’ lives. As the pilot ends, it’s important to hear from the artists themselves. I am struck by the stories collected in this report. This paper complements my department’s research to date which shows that the BIA payment is having a consistent, positive impact for those in receipt of it. Artists are investing more time and more money into their practice, completing more new artistic output, experiencing reduced anxiety, and are protected from the precariousness of incomes in the sector to a greater degree than those who are not receiving the support.”
John Baker, Joint Co-ordinator at Basic Income Ireland, says: Basic Income Ireland argues that the above benefits should be extended to everyone. A Universal and Unconditional Basic Income would provide us all with more security and wellbeing, allow more freedom to engage in community, caring and creative activities, encourage the take-up of education, training and paid work, and help us to adjust to a rapidly-changing world.
The full report is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-tourism-culture-arts-gaeltacht-sport-and-media/press-releases/recipients-of-basic-income-for-the-arts-share-their-experiences-in-a-new-report/
Basic Income Ireland www.basicincome.ie is the Irish affiliate of the Basic Income Earth Network. We envisage an Ireland where every child, woman and man has an unconditional guaranteed basic income sufficient to live life with dignity.
Email info@basicincome.ie for additional commentary and spokesperson contact information.
