Irish artist Elinor O’Donovan shared in an interview how Ireland’s universal basic income program positively impacted her art and life. The three-year pilot initiative, which provided a weekly stipend to 2,000 artists and creative workers from 2022 to 2025, brought significant changes to O’Donovan’s work and overall well-being.
Following the successful pilot, Ireland has decided to make the program permanent, citing its substantial societal benefits outweighing the government costs. This move has sparked enthusiasm among advocates in Canada, with hopes of implementing a similar widespread program in the country.
Basic income, a policy involving unconditional cash transfers by the government to meet basic needs, was introduced in Ireland through the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) program in 2022. The scheme aimed to support the arts sector’s recovery post-COVID-19 losses and has been lauded as a remarkable achievement for Ireland.
Despite the program’s costs, a report by Alma Economics revealed that the benefits, including enhanced audience engagement with the arts, increased tax revenue, reduced social welfare payments, and improved well-being for participants, offset the expenses. Elinor O’Donovan emphasized the financial and intrinsic value that arts contribute to society.
In Canada, artists have long advocated for a universal basic income. The Canadian artistic community, including 75,000 artists, launched campaigns calling for a guaranteed basic income during the pandemic. The recent developments in Ireland have reignited hopes for a similar movement in Canada.
While various provinces in Canada have experimented with basic income programs, achieving mixed results, the prospects for a national basic income program remain uncertain. Economists differ on the feasibility of implementing basic income at a national level in Canada, with some citing current government priorities and potential disincentives to work. Advocates, however, view basic income as a nation-building initiative that could positively impact Canadians’ lives.