Cost-benefit analysis for the Basic Income for the Arts

The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot, launched in 2022, provided 2,000 eligible artists and creative professionals in Ireland with a regular, unconditional income of €325 per week over a three-year period. The pilot aimed to address longstanding challenges in the sector, including low and unstable earnings and limited job security, supporting artistic practice and wellbeing. This report presents a comprehensive evaluation of the BIA pilot. It adopts a quasi experimental approach to assess its impact on a wide range of economic, artistic, and wellbeing outcomes for artists and creative arts workers. The evaluation also includes a social Cost-Benefit Analysis, quantifying the value generated by the pilot and informing considerations for a potential national rollout.