A cost-benefit analysis of Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot has found the programme delivered over €100 million in social and economic benefits between 2021 and 2025.
The report, commissioned by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and conducted by Alma Economics, was published today by Minister Patrick O’Donovan TD.
The study found that for every €1 of public funding invested in the BIA pilot, society gained €1.39 in return.
The original cost of the pilot was €105 million, but after accounting for tax revenues and reduced social welfare payments, the net fiscal cost dropped to just under €72 million.
A key component of the total benefits came from psychological wellbeing, which contributed almost €80 million. In addition, the report estimates that audience engagement with the arts generated €16.9 million in social value, based on public willingness-to-pay for cultural experiences.
Financially, artists participating in the programme saw their average monthly income from arts-related work increase by over €500. At the same time, their earnings from non-arts employment fell by approximately €280.
There was also a measurable decline in reliance on social protection, with recipients receiving €100 less per month on average. Participants were also 38 percentage points less likely to be receiving Jobseeker’s payments.
The report included analysis across various demographic and professional categories, including gender, disability status, career stage, art form, and income level. It also explored the potential implications of expanding the scheme on a larger scale.
The BIA pilot, launched in 2021, provided selected artists and creative arts workers with a basic income to support their work and reduce financial insecurity. This cost-benefit analysis is part of the government’s ongoing evaluation of the pilot’s effectiveness and impact.
Minister O’Donovan described the findings as a strong indicator of the programme’s impact. "The economic return on this investment in Ireland’s artists and creative arts workers is immediately having a positive impact for the sector and the economy overall," he said.
The Department plans to use the results of this analysis to inform future decisions on arts funding and policy development.
