Ireland has just made official what many countries do not even dare to debate: paying its artists so they can create without the pressure of survival. The Basic Income for the Arts program began as a pilot in 2022, giving 325 euros per week to selected artists without requiring anything in return. The results were so conclusive that in February 2026 the government turned it into a permanent policy. Starting in September 2026, 2,000 new beneficiaries will receive approximately 1,300 euros per month for three years, and the cycle will be renewed so that more creators can gain access over time. Ireland thus becomes the first country in the world to institutionalize a basic income exclusively for the cultural sector, betting on a simple and radical idea: a society that cannot sustain its artists ends up losing its own identity.
