Irish residents are being encouraged to apply for a new weekly social welfare-style scheme as applications for a permanent arts support programme have now opened.
The Basic Income for the Arts scheme (BIA), expected to begin in September, will run in three-year cycles and will select 2,000 artists to receive a weekly payment of €325, reports The Mirror.
The scheme is designed to support artists and creative workers facing financial uncertainty in the sector.
A pilot version of the scheme was introduced in 2022, providing €325 per week to 2,000 artists who were selected through a randomised process after meeting eligibility criteria, reports The Mirror.
Under Budget 2026, Minister for Arts and Culture Patrick O’Donovan secured €18.27 million in funding to make the scheme permanent.
The programme will operate in three-year cycles, with successful applicants only eligible to receive the payment once every six years before being able to reapply in future rounds, reports The Mirror.
The Basic Income for the Arts is aimed at professional artists who can demonstrate an active creative practice based primarily in Ireland.
Applicants may have their information shared with relevant arts organisations to verify eligibility, and not all eligible applicants will be selected due to limited funding, reports The Mirror.
Participants from the original pilot scheme are also allowed to reapply, but must again prove eligibility for the new cycle.
Applications for the 2026–2029 cycle opened at 1pm on Wednesday April 15, and eligible applicants include professional artists based in the Republic of Ireland with a primary creative practice in the country, as well as recently graduated applicants, reports The Mirror.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Tuesday, May 15, and late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted. All applications must be submitted through an online portal with a valid email address, reports The Mirror.
Minister O’Donovan said: “I am pleased to be the Minister responsible for making the BIA permanent and I encourage all professional artists to apply for the scheme. This scheme is important for society in general, not just for artists. It has the potential to expand the arts sector and create more opportunities for citizens to engage in the arts. It also recognises the contribution of artists to democracy and to how we see ourselves as a nation”, reports The Mirror.
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