The Irish government has made permanent the basic income pilot program for artists, which benefited 2,000 creators for three years. The initiative, a pioneer in Europe, seeks to stabilize the cultural sector and revitalize small communities, guaranteeing a fixed income of 325 euros per week to those selected.
Data and technical model of the cultural program 🎨
The original program, launched in 2022, selected participants through a random process among 9,000 applicants. Beneficiaries received 325 euros per week for three years with no restrictions on additional income. Preliminary data shows a 40% increase in local artistic production and a 25% increase in cultural events in rural areas. The new permanent scheme will adjust selection based on need and geographic dispersion criteria, prioritizing regions with less access to cultural funding.
The wet dream of any minimum-wage earner 🍀
While in Spain we debate whether to pay the rent or buy a sandwich, in Ireland an artist earns 325 quid a week to paint green clouds in a village of 200 inhabitants. The program has been so successful that even the local bards have stopped cursing the government in their songs. Now they curse with better tuning and without rushing to finish the work before the power gets cut off.