Ireland has decided to make its basic income scheme for artists a permanent program.
The move comes after a multi-year pilot that gave thousands of painters, writers, performers, and other creatives a fixed monthly payment.
Officials said the test showed strong results. Many participants reported higher financial stability, more time to create, and less need to take side jobs. Supporters say the policy will help protect culture and keep creative work alive in a digital economy.
The scheme will continue to pay artists a set monthly wage with few conditions. The goal is to treat cultural work like essential labor, not a hobby. Ireland now becomes one of the first countries in the world to guarantee long-term income support for the arts.
Critics argue the plan is costly and may be unfair to other workers. They also question whether taxpayers should fund people without requiring commercial output. But the government said the cultural and economic value justifies the investment.
As other countries debate similar ideas for gig workers, freelancers, and creators, many will now be watching Ireland as a test case for universal basic income in the cultural sector.
