VAI News

Artists at Risk if Basic Income for the Arts Scheme is Scrapped, Warns Visual Artists Ireland

Visual Artists Ireland (VAI) expresses grave concern over reports that the Irish Government may discontinue the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme, without expanding it to include the wider spectrum of art workers. Such a decision would not only jeopardise the livelihoods of current recipients but also risk reversing the positive gains in artistic production, well-being, and social stability that the scheme has demonstrably fostered.

The Basic Income for the Arts pilot, launched in 2022, was internationally hailed as a groundbreaking initiative aimed at addressing the longstanding precarity in the cultural sector. It recognised the intrinsic value of artistic labour and provided a stable foundation for creative individuals to pursue their work without the constant burden of financial insecurity.

If discontinued, many artists would be thrust back into the cycle of precarious employment, underemployment, or forced reliance on social welfare systems. This would be a regressive step, contradicting the government’s own National Culture Policy and undermining Ireland’s reputation as a global leader in supporting the arts.

Moreover, restricting the scheme’s reach by not including other vital art workers—such as curators, technicians, producers, and community arts facilitators—fails to acknowledge the interdependent nature of the arts ecosystem. These roles are critical to the production and dissemination of art, and their exclusion only serves to perpetuate inequalities within the sector.

VAI strongly urges the Irish Government to:

  • Commit to the continuation and permanent implementation of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme.

  • Expand eligibility to include all art workers, recognising the collaborative nature of cultural production.

  • Continue to research, publish and promote findings from the pilot scheme to demonstrate its wide-ranging social, economic, and mental health benefits.

  • Engage with representative bodies in meaningful consultation before making any policy changes.

We welcome and support Minister O’Donovan’s efforts to maintain the scheme and encourage his continued leadership in advocating for its long-term sustainability and expansion. His recognition of the scheme’s impact on artists’ lives, mental health, and creative output reflects a commitment to progressive and inclusive cultural policy.

This call is supported by findings from the pilot evaluation process, ongoing feedback from recipients, and international best practices, such as Finland’s universal basic income trials and the Scottish Government’s recent commitment to a Minimum Income Guarantee for artists.

VAI Director Noel Kelly commented:

“Scrapping this scheme would be an act of cultural and social self-sabotage. The Basic Income for the Arts has already proven its worth—not only to individual artists but to communities and the cultural life of the nation. We should be building on this foundation, not dismantling it.”

VAI continues in its appeal for sustainable, forward-thinking support that acknowledges the essential contribution of the arts to society, with expansion to allow all artists and art workers access to this very important form of support.