"For three years, we were paid 325 a week with no strings attached, other than filling out a survey. We could continue earning and applying for artist grants. I am a freelance writer who, like most artists, has always had to work outside my creative focus to afford to live, constantly worrying I will never be able to afford a home myself or to start a family."
"The basic income gave me more freedom to experiment in my work, to write for independent publications and engage with community initiatives. I helped to create events that brought together artists across forms and raised money for a local rape crisis centre."
"It turned out that artists on the pilot made back millions. The state's own research found that for every euro the government spent on supporting artists, society received 1.39 in return, and the scheme was estimated to have generated more than 100m in social and economic benefits."
Ireland's three-year basic income pilot for artists randomly selected 2,000 participants from 8,000 applicants to receive 325 weekly with no conditions except survey completion. The scheme enabled artists to pursue creative work while maintaining financial stability. Participants could continue earning and applying for grants. The pilot generated significant returns: for every euro invested, society received 1.39 euros back, with over 100 million euros in estimated social and economic benefits. The program revealed systemic precarity within the creative sector and its mental health impacts. Success of the pilot led the Irish government to establish a permanent basic income scheme for artists launching in May, demonstrating that unconditional support for creative professionals produces measurable positive outcomes.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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