Basic income for artists: what Ireland shows

For artists, a stable income is not always guaranteed. Many artists work as freelancers and depend on clients or commissions. That means some months are difficult not only to make ends meet, but also to invest in materials and their craft. A basic income is simply not something you can count on when you study art and enter the field afterward; “that’s the risk of the profession.”

Ireland decided to do something about this. Starting in 2026, the country will introduce a basic income for artists. This means that about 2,000 artists will receive around 375 dollars (about €350) per week, so roughly €1,400 per month.

An experiment that worked

It started as a pilot project in 2022. The government wanted to see what financial security would mean for artists’ work and wellbeing, and whether they would be able to focus more on their art without constant money stress. The results were striking: the pilot cost about €72 million, but generated nearly €80 million for the economy. So it even produced a net gain. Participating artists earned on average €500 more per month from their art, worked less outside the sector, and needed less support from other benefits.

“It doesn’t just help artists, it helps the economy too,” said the Irish Minister for Culture.

How this experiment fits into context

It’s important to place the Irish experiment in context. In other countries, such as the United States, similar pilots have been less convincing. This doesn’t mean that basic income ‘works’ or ‘doesn’t work’, but that its impact depends on the context. The cultural sector has unpredictable income patterns and a high risk of dropout, which makes financial stability particularly effective here. Ireland shows that a measure considered controversial elsewhere can succeed within specific niches.

More than money: behavioral change in practice

What happened in Ireland is more than a financial success story. It shows what changes when people have security not only in their wallet, but also in their behavior, their choices, and their confidence.

A stable income gives artists room to take risks. To make something that might not sell, but does matter. To take a breath without feeling that every project has to earn money immediately. That is where creativity begins: in calm and courage.

That calm has an effect beyond the arts. People who once doubted whether to choose an arts education now dare to follow their talent. Art is no longer seen as a leap into the unknown, but as a fully fledged path, a profession that matters. And that changes how a society looks at art.

When the basics are in place, there is room to grow. Artists can contribute more, the economy benefits, and cultural life flourishes. That is the power of this experiment: it proves that trust is an investment that pays off in value, in wellbeing, and in imagination.

What do you think?

For us, this is mainly an example of what can happen when people are given a stable foundation: it enables choices that are often impossible under constant pressure. This experiment shows how security creates room for development, something that reaches beyond this single project.

What do you think about the idea of a basic income for artists?
Do you know more inspiring stories or initiatives that create positive change in society?

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