New Basic Income for the Arts Scheme Criticized for Restricting Disabled Artists
The new Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) scheme, running from 2026 to 2029, is criticized by Aoife Ó Ceallacháin for being restrictive and potentially reinforcing inequalities, particularly for disabled artists. Concerns include the impact of BIA payments on disability allowances and medical cards, hindering professional development. The scheme's new annual audits also pose challenges for artists with fluctuating health conditions.
Aoife Ó Ceallacháin, a writer and disability advocate, has criticized the new Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) successor scheme, which runs from 2026 to 2029. She finds the guidelines restrictive and believes the scheme, which provides 2,000 artists with €325 weekly, is more rigid and focused on already successful artists, risking the reinforcement of inequalities.
The BIA pilot, from September 2022 to February 2026, faced criticism regarding accessibility for artists with disabilities. Ó Ceallacháin, a member of Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics (Dada), highlighted that some disabled artists feared applying due to potential loss of medical cards or other allowances, as the Department of Social Protection treats BIA payments as self-employment earnings. This creates a "hard ceiling" for those on means-tested supports, hindering professional growth.
Research from the pilot showed disabled recipients experienced reductions in medical and disability support. Emilie Conway, a Dada founder, described this as "precarity squared," noting the unpredictable nature of arts income compared to other sectors. She also pointed out physical accessibility barriers and the complex processes disabled artists face for funding.
The new scheme introduces annual audits and comprehensive surveys to verify eligibility and collect data on artistic output, with failure resulting in removal and potential repayment. While some welcome accountability, this could stress disabled artists who may experience periods of illness affecting their output. The Department of Culture stated it engaged continuously with disability groups, and the Department of Social Protection noted that disability allowance recipients receiving BIA can still see an overall income increase and retain secondary supports.