Latest news with #BasicIncomefortheArts
The Journal
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Minister backs keeping artists' Basic Income after report finds they feel happier and empowered
ARTS MINISTER PATRICK O'Donovan has backed retaining the Basic Income Scheme for artists. The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has published a report into the scheme, where artists said the weekly stipend of €325 improved their mental health, made them feel more empowered and gave them much more stability in their life and work. With other benefits cited such as helping to gain artists more sustainable housing, to starting families and establishing pension schemes, the scheme has been loudly welcomed by arts groups. O'Donovan said that the research on a pilot of 2,000 artists shows that the impact of the Basic Income Scheme is 'far-ranging', affecting all aspects of recipients' lives. 'Artists are investing more time and more money into their practice, completing more new artistic output, experiencing reduced anxiety, and are protected from the precariousness of incomes in the sector to a greater degree than those who are not receiving the support,' the Fine Gael minister said. Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan (centre) pictured with the National Campaign for the Arts steering group Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media The commissioned report collected and analysed the experiences of Basic Income for the Arts recipients. It found that providing a basic income for Ireland's artists has helped to achieve the original aums, by assisting in reducing anxiety around making ends meet while increasing time for recipients to pursue their work. Advertisement This increased time for creative pursuits has resulted in greater artist autonomy and better greater ability to plan and navigate their own creative path. Artists also reported that the scheme 'significantly impacts' feelings of financial uncertainty in their lives. As the pilot ends, it's important to hear from the artists themselves. I am struck by the stories collected in this report. This 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. In a statement today, O'Donovan said he had met with the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) last week to discuss the income scheme and was aware that there is broad sectoral support for it. Minister 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 National Campaign for the Arts committee said that it 'emphatically supports' the retention, extension and expansion of Basic Income for the Arts. Calling it a 'transformative policy', the group said it has helped to support artists to 'secure more sustainable housing, address health issues, start families and even establish pension schemes'. The National Campaign for the Arts said that the findings 'affirm what the arts sector has long known', namely, that 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'. The paper published today found that artists felt an importance of 'giving back' to their community and that the scheme had helped them to work on more projects within their locality. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
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.
Dublin Live
26-05-2025
- Business
- Dublin Live
Social welfare Ireland: €325 a week scheme set to end this summer backed for renewal by Minister
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan is reportedly supportive of the renewal of the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme, which is due to finish up in August. The scheme aims to support the arts and creative practice by giving a payment of €325 a week to artists and creative arts workers. As it is due to finish up in the coming months, the government is currently looking at the possibility of extending it. While Mr O'Donovan is understood to support its retention and expansion, a government decision has yet to be made, the Irish Independent has reported. Last week, Mr O'Donovan met with the National Campaign for the Arts. A senior government source said that the minister did not want to see the benefits of the scheme 'dismissed out of hand'. 'The minister was clear that his ambition is to retain, extend and expand the Basic Income for the Arts – and that individual artists should not bear responsibility for any failures of governance by people in the Arts Council,' the source said. 'The minister is determined to ensure that the social, personal and economic benefits of the BIA scheme aren't dismissed out of hand." Speaking in the Dail earlier this year, Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan said government data shows that the scheme payment is having a 'consistent' positive impact across almost all indicators affecting practice development, sectoral retention, well-being and deprivation. Approximately 2,000 eligible applicants were selected to participate in the pilot scheme in September 2022. Here's everything you need to know about the scheme: Who was selected? Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you were included in an anonymised random sampling process. A randomiser software was used to select participants at random. The sample was checked to ensure adequate representation. The anonymised randomised selection of participants was held on 29 August 2022. You should have received notification of the outcome of your application on 8 September 2022. How much does the scheme pay? The BIA grant is €325 a week. Payments are made monthly. The payment is taxable, but the amount of tax paid depends on your individual circumstances. You need to register with Revenue as self-employed and pay Schedule D income tax, where appropriate, on the BIA payment. Income from the pilot will be liable for USC and Class S PRSI. You are entitled to earn additional income, which would also be reckonable for the purposes of income tax. How does the scheme work? The pilot scheme evaluates the impact of a basic income on artists and creative arts workers. The pilot programme collects and analyses data from BIA recipients and a control group throughout the pilot. If you were selected to participate on BIA, you will: Take part in the pilot research programme for 3 years (2022 to 2025) Engage in ongoing data collection as part of the pilot to determine the impact of the grant payment Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Arts Minister Patrick O'Donovan backs continuation of state scheme that pays struggling artists €325 a week
The BIA was introduced in 2022 as a three-year pilot project to help artists deal with precarious incomes. The first of its kind in Ireland, the BIA gives a payment of €325 per week to 2,000 artists and creative arts workers. It was massively oversubscribed when introduced, with more than 8,200 eligible applications received when it opened. With the scheme due to come to an end in August, uncertainty over the BIA's future has caused considerable anxiety within the sector. While Mr O'Donovan is understood to support its retention and expansion, a government decision has yet to be made. A new report into the scheme is set to be published this week, for which more than 50 artists were interviewed about their experience receiving the BIA. The findings of the report, conducted by independent social research consultant Jenny Dagg, were broadly positive and found it provided artists with greater financial security. It found that the scheme reduced the stress and anxiety of recipients and helped them meet their basic needs. For young and recently qualified artists, it gave them the ability to pay their rent and meant they reconsidered emigrating. The minister was clear that his ambition is to retain, extend and expand the Basic Income for the Arts Others reported the BIA gave their profession legitimacy and that it was not perceived as just a hobby or a lifestyle. Last week, Mr O'Donovan met with the National Campaign for the Arts. A senior government source said that the minister did not want to see the benefits of the scheme 'dismissed out of hand'. 'The minister was clear that his ambition is to retain, extend and expand the Basic Income for the Arts – and that individual artists should not bear responsibility for any failures of governance by people in the Arts Council,' the source said. 'The minister is determined to ensure that the social, personal and economic benefits of the BIA scheme aren't dismissed out of hand. 'Some people know the price of everything but the value of nothing. The return on investment here is worth the expenditure, anyone can see that, and the benefits for wider society are huge too,' they added. A source within the Department of Arts said the 'objective analysis of the economic impact of the scheme supports the minister's view, and shows that the overall benefit is significant for both the recipient and the wider arts sector'. Some unexpected benefits reported by BIA recipients included being given a sense of value as well as the ability to start a pension. There were some challenges noted in the research, which included those with disabilities who reported experiencing reductions in their medical and disability support. This was 'as a result of accepting the BIA payment and obstacles around accepting work that impacts welfare thresholds'. Some artists reported their relationships with other artists not in receipt of the BIA as tense and found they told only people close to them that they were in receipt of the support. Others reported they felt guilty having received the BIA, 'knowing the level of scarcity, deprivation and desperation that fellow artists operate at'. Others said an unexpected challenge of the scheme was dealing with financial insecurity if the scheme ended.
