Ireland did something most governments only talk about. In October 2025, they announced their Basic Income for the Arts pilot would become permanent, making them the first country to commit state funding to directly support artists through unconditional cash payments. Two thousand artists will receive €325 weekly, roughly £280, no strings attached.
This matters because it represents a rare collision between utopian policy ideals and pragmatic economic reality. Universal basic income has been floated, trialled, and abandoned across Finland, Germany, Kenya, and parts of the US. Most died after their pilot phases. Ireland’s…
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