Irish artist Elinor O’Donovan shared in an interview how Ireland’s universal basic income program positively impacted her life and art. The program, which provided a weekly stipend to 2,000 artists and creative workers from 2022 to 2025, was described by O’Donovan as transformative for her well-being and artistic endeavors.
Following the successful pilot, Ireland has decided to make the basic income program permanent due to its significant societal benefits. This move has sparked hope among advocates in Canada for a similar program to alleviate poverty, despite warnings from economists.
The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) initiative in Ireland, aimed at aiding the arts sector’s recovery post-pandemic, has been lauded for its success. The scheme, although costly, was deemed financially viable, generating substantial social and economic benefits according to a report by Alma Economics.
In Canada, artists have long advocated for a universal basic income, with hopes that the positive outcomes in Ireland will propel a similar movement. Campaigners are pushing for a broader basic income program to support all Canadians below a certain income threshold.
While basic income experiments have been conducted in various Canadian provinces, the likelihood of a national basic income program remains uncertain. Economists differ on the feasibility of such a program at a federal level, citing government priorities and potential disincentives to work. However, advocates like Craig Berggold remain optimistic, believing a federal basic income program could be a significant nation-building initiative.