Minister backs retention of Basic Income for Arts scheme
Minister for the Arts Patrick O'Donovan has publicly backed the retention of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme today saying that its impact is "far-ranging and affects all aspects of recipients' lives".
In a newly commissioned report published by the Minister this morning, the experiences of Basic Income for the Arts (BIA), more than 50 recipients were interviewed by a sociologist to talk about the changes that the BIA has brought to their lives.
The report provides additional context to the data collected so far by the Department as part of the BIA research programme, the Minister said.
The scheme which has been running since September 2022 on a three-year pilot timeframe provides 2,000 artists and creative arts workers, who were selected randomly, with payments of €325 per week.
The report finds that participation in the scheme has been broadly welcomed by the artistic community with recipients describing a range of impacts including that the weekly financial support "significantly reduces financial anxiety and increases time for creative pursuits".
The interviews also demonstrate that recipients reported "greater artistic autonomy, self-efficacy and validation" through participation in the scheme.
Minister O'Donovan said that as the pilot ends later this summer, it was important to hear from the artists themselves and that he was "struck" by the stories collected in this report, adding that the 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".
Mr O'Donovan also met with the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) last week to discuss the Basic Income for the Arts and is aware that there is broad sectoral support for the BIA.
The NCFA said that it "emphatically" supports the retention, extension and expansion of the BIA, recognising it as a "transformative policy" that empowers artists with meaningful financial stability.
It adds that the findings of the report demonstrate that, the pilot scheme has supported artists to "secure more sustainable housing, address health issues, start families and even establish pension schemes".
The findings "affirm" what the arts sector has long known: the "deep precarity of the arts requires sustained, courageous support - support that not only transforms the lives of artists, but also strengthens the society they help to shape," a spokesperson for the NCFA added.
The paper published today finds that the stability of the payment has significantly reduced underlying financial stress, has allowed recipients to devote time to research and experimentation which resulted in improved quality and opened new career trajectories.
The interviewees report a sense of legitimacy and validation and mentioned the importance of 'giving back' to their community.
Mr O'Donovan added "I am heartened by the responses of the Basic Income recipients in this paper.
"This research will add to the evaluation being conducted by my Department, which to date clearly shows that the Basic Income pilot has been an effective support for the artists in receipt of it. Per the Programme for Government I will evaluate the data from the pilot and then bring proposals to Government about next steps."
The report was compiled by Dr Jenny Dagg, a sociologist lecturing in the Department of Sociology at Maynooth University.
The report's research questions included, 'how does basic income support affect the financial stability of artists and creative workers?' and 'how does basic income support influence the well-being and mental health of artists?'.
Key impacts reported by participants illustrated income security, and a rise in artistic output and quality.
Recipients acknowledged that the BIA payment makes them feel "legitimate" and validated, that "I am an artist" and that being an artist is now a valid and valued profession.
On 8 May Mr O'Donovan said in the Dáil that the scheme had "proven its worth" and that he saw "retention of the scheme as a priority" and that he would make an announcement "soon" to confirm details as an extention would be subject to "budgetary talks".
Labour TD Alan Kelly who is the chair of the new Media Committee also welcomed the scheme that day and gave his support to its extention.
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