Irish government approves new Basic Income for the Arts scheme for 2,000 artists (gov.ie)

• 2,000 artists to receive €325/week for 3 years, with 3-month tapering
• Scheme operates in 3-year cycles; artists eligible every 3 out of 6 years
• Budget €18.27m; applications open May 2026, payments before year-end
• Pilot found €1.39 return per €1 invested; positive impacts on wellbeing and productivity

"The Irish government has approved the new Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme, a successor to the pilot. From 2026, 2,000 eligible artists in the Republic of Ireland will receive €325 per week for three years, with a three-month tapering period. The scheme operates in three-year cycles; artists can receive the payment every three out of six years. Applications open in May, with payments starting before year-end. The budget is €18.27m, secured in Budget 2026. A cost-benefit analysis of the pilot found a return of €1.39 for every €1 invested."