Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts experiment has given creatives a weekly payment for three years. Now, a permanent program could be on the way.

As Ireland’s $1,500-a-month basic income pilot program for creatives nears its end in February, officials have to answer a simple question: Is it worth it?

With four months to go, they say the answer is yes.

Earlier this month, Ireland’s government announced its 2026 budget, which includes “a successor to the pilot Basic Income Scheme for the Arts to begin next year” among its expenditures.

Ireland is just one of many places experimenting with guaranteed basic income programs, which provide recurring, unrestricted payments to people in a certain demographic. These programs differ from a universal basic income, which would provide payments for an entire population.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
      751·
      1 month ago

      That attitude is why the wealthy will always insist on means testing to oppose progress…

      The attitude we need is:

      I hope as many people as possible get it now, and we’ll keep working on the rest.

      Influencers suck, pretty much as a rule.

      But everyone deserves to live. And them being UBI proponents and constantly talking about it because they’re genuinely happy they got it is a hell of a lot better than them taking cash from a billionaire to pit us against each other.

        • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
          185·
          1 month ago

          but like i think i still would rather have artists + influencers ubi then none

          Right…

          But first you posted a comment about how pissed you were that another group were getting it and they shouldn’t.

          Even if you know you meant “everyone should get it”…

          You didn’t type that, you were manipulated instead into only saying a group you don’t like shouldn’t get it.

          No one reading your initial comment was/is capable of reading your mind. You did what the wealthy wanted, and may have influenced those who just read your first comment.

        • chosensilence@pawb.socialEnglish
          3·
          1 month ago

          wtf even is an “influencer?” i am an online comedian posting my own material to an audience of 90,000-100,000 followers. i am not trying to be an influencer. i don’t want to be seen as even a micro-influencer. it seems that word is given to anyone who is trying to be an entertainer online.

          is that how you’re using it too? how would we legally separate between artists like me and whatever an influencer is?