Ireland launches the initiative "Basic Income for the Arts" to stimulate the creativity of artists and reduce the need for other jobs.

Ireland has announced the launch of the "Basic Income for the Arts" (BIA) program, which will provide 325 euros (283 pounds) per week to a number of 2,000 eligible artists over a period of three years.

The Minister of Culture, Patrick O'Donovan, stated that this is the first program of its kind in the world, mentioning that it will revolutionize the way the country values culture and creativity. The permanent program follows a pilot project conducted between 2022 and 2025, which helped artists during the Covid pandemic. Although artists have welcomed the initiative, they continue to face a cost of living crisis, with rents in Dublin doubling since 2013.