Strengthening Ireland's Infrastructure for Artist Support
Ireland's Experimental Basic Income for the Arts Supports Artists and Boosts Creative Output
As calls mount in Quebec and Canada for extending social safety nets to artists and artisans, Ireland's pilot program for a Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) is attracting considerable attention. This government-funded initiative is providing financial support to over 8,000 artists, allowing them to focus on their craft and produce higher-quality work.
Irish writer Katie McDermott, one of the recipients, has been receiving over 500 CAD per week for the past three years, enabling her to write a novel, begin a new one, and work on a short story collection. Before the BIA, she struggled to make ends meet and would have either gone into debt or taken a day job to finance her writing.
"This guaranteed income has absolved me of the uncertainties and tensions normally associated with the artistic life," McDermott said, affirming the program's transformative impact.
The BIA's positive reception is documented in a recent report, based on interviews with around fifty supported artists. They report a significant reduction in financial anxiety, increased time spent on creative work, and higher-quality artistic output. Recipients also express enthusiasm for the greater artistic autonomy the program affords.
The pilot project, launched in 2022, retained 8,000 individual files deemed eligible based on predetermined conditions and selected nearly 2,000 beneficiaries through a random draw. Recipients can supplement their income from the program with other sources, as BIA payments are taxable and exceed those of employment insurance.
The Irish government's support for artists extends beyond the BIA, with income from artistic activities under 80,000 CAD potentially not subject to tax under certain circumstances.
As the three-year pilot program approaches its end in 2025, the Writers' Union of Ireland and the guild of screenwriters in the country are advocating for its continuation. Minister of Culture, Patrick O’Donovan, has expressed support but has not yet specified the future scope of the program.
The success of the BIA in Ireland raises the possibility of a similar program in Canada, contingent upon significant political commitment, funding, and support from the arts sector. A Canadian Basic Income for the Arts could potentially reduce artist precarity, enhance creative output, and deliver wider societal benefits, but necessitates broad sectoral and governmental support, alongside sustainable funding.
The French government might consider adopting a similar basic income program for artists, as witnessed in Ireland, to foster growth in the French finance and creative business sectors. Such a move could resonate in Canadian politics, where advocates call for extending social safety nets to artists, potentially leading to improvements in general-news output.
