Ireland is allocating €34.4 million to its Basic Income for the Arts scheme, providing financial support to 2,000 professional artists across the country. Those selected will receive €325 per week for three years, equivalent to more than €16,900 annually, giving artists a more reliable income while they concentrate on their creative careers.
The announcement is particularly relevant to Ireland’s international communities, including thousands of Brazilians living in the country who work in creative industries. Brazilian artists are not automatically excluded from the scheme because of their nationality. The eligibility rules focus on professional artistic activity and being based in Ireland, rather than requiring applicants to hold Irish citizenship.
Can Brazilians living in Ireland receive the artist payment?
Yes. Brazilian nationals living in Ireland can apply for the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, provided they meet the same eligibility requirements as other applicants. Irish citizenship is not listed as a condition of eligibility, meaning that professional artists from Brazil and other nationalities can be considered.
However, applicants must already be based in the Republic of Ireland and demonstrate that their professional artistic practice is primarily carried out here. They cannot simply move to Ireland to take advantage of the scheme, as the Department specifically requires applicants to be resident in the country when applying and to remain based here throughout the payment period.
Brazilian musicians, photographers, filmmakers, writers, actors, dancers and other creative professionals who have established an active artistic career in Ireland may therefore qualify. They must also be at least 18 years old, tax compliant and able to provide the required evidence of their professional work.
The scheme does not grant immigration permission or a right to work in Ireland. Applicants must already have the appropriate status to live and undertake their professional activities in the country. The published guidelines do not impose a separate Irish citizenship requirement.
What types of artists can apply?
The Basic Income for the Arts is intended for professional practising artists with an active creative career. It is not a general grant for people who enjoy art as a hobby, nor is it intended for people who simply hope to become professional artists in the future.
The scheme covers a wide range of creative disciplines. These include:
- Musicians and singers: Professional musicians, vocalists, composers, songwriters, recording artists and performers.
- Writers and authors: Published authors, poets, playwrights and other professional literary creators.
- Visual artists: Painters, sculptors, illustrators, photographers and other practising visual artists.
- Actors and theatre professionals: Actors, playwrights, theatre directors and people creating professional stage productions.
- Dancers and choreographers: Professional dancers and artists who create or direct choreographed performances.
- Filmmakers: Film directors, screenwriters and other creative professionals with recognised film credits.
- Digital and other creative artists: Practitioners working in recognised creative disciplines who can demonstrate an active professional artistic practice.
These are examples rather than a guarantee that every person working in these occupations will qualify. The important distinction is whether the individual is a professional practising artist, rather than someone working in an arts-related administrative or commercial role.
For example, someone who paints occasionally and sells pictures at local markets will not automatically qualify. Similarly, someone who writes songs but has never established a professional creative practice will not meet the requirements simply because they have written original material.
What evidence do artists need to provide?
Applicants under the standard category must provide three pieces of evidence demonstrating their professional artistic activity. At least two of these must come from Irish organisations, funding bodies or representative organisations, helping establish that their creative careers are primarily based in Ireland.
Examples of accepted evidence include:
- Funding or grants received from recognised arts organisations.
- Contracts for professional creative work.
- Published books, released music or credited film and theatre productions.
- Participation in professionally curated exhibitions and recognised arts festivals.
- Performances at established theatres, venues and recognised arts events.
- Representation by a professional gallery, promoter or agent.
- Membership of recognised professional organisations, such as IMRO, the Irish Writers Union, Dance Ireland or Visual Artists Ireland, at the required membership level.
- Professional awards, commissions and funded artist residencies.
- Evidence of royalties or income from artistic work.
- Qualifying tax records showing income from creative activities.
This requirement is particularly important for Brazilian artists who have previously worked in Brazil but are now building their careers in Ireland. International experience can help demonstrate professional activity, but applicants must still provide at least two qualifying proofs from Irish organisations or bodies.
Personal websites, social media profiles, portfolios, informal performances and self-published material are not automatically accepted as evidence. The Department may contact the organisations named in an application to verify the information provided.
How much will artists receive?
Each successful applicant will receive €325 per week for three years. Payments are made monthly at €1,413.21, providing recipients with a predictable income that can help cover living costs while they concentrate on their creative work.
The payment is not restricted to a particular project or production. Artists can use the financial support to develop their work, create new projects, spend more time practising their art or reduce their dependence on unrelated employment.
Recipients must comply with Revenue requirements and the scheme’s ongoing reporting conditions. Those selected who are not already registered as self-employed must register accordingly and provide annual tax documentation. They must also participate in the research surveys and demonstrate that they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
Why is Ireland investing €34.4 million in artists?
The Basic Income for the Arts scheme follows an original pilot programme launched in 2022. That initiative provided 2,000 selected artists with regular payments and allowed the Government to examine whether guaranteed financial support could improve working conditions across the creative sector.
Research from the pilot found that recipients were generally able to spend more time on their artistic work, produce more creative projects and experience improvements in their wellbeing. The programme also helped reduce the financial uncertainty that is common among freelance artists and people working in creative industries.
Following the pilot’s evaluation, the Government decided to establish a successor scheme for 2026 to 2029. The €34.4 million allocation announced in Budget 2027 provides funding for a full year of the programme, supporting the 2,000 selected artists.
More than 10,000 artists applied
Demand for the scheme has been substantial. More than 10,000 applications were received for the 2,000 available places, meaning that many professional artists who met the eligibility requirements will not receive funding in this round.
Selection is based on an anonymised randomised process among eligible applicants, rather than a competition in which artists are ranked according to popularity, commercial success or the perceived quality of their work. The Department also checks the supporting evidence before confirming recipients.
The application window for the 2026 to 2029 scheme closed on 12 May 2026. The first successful applicants began receiving notifications on 15 October, with notifications being issued in stages. Payments for recipients starting in 2026 are being backdated to September, while those whose payments commence in 2027 will receive payments from or backdated to January 2027.
Artists who did not apply before the deadline cannot join the current application round. However, the scheme is intended to operate in three-year cycles, offering further opportunities in future rounds. Artists who receive funding in the 2026 to 2029 cycle cannot receive it again in the immediately following 2030 to 2033 cycle.
Where can artists find more information?
The official eligibility requirements, accepted evidence and payment conditions are available through the Basic Income for the Arts application guidelines. The Department has also published a frequently asked questions section addressing issues such as eligibility, evidence, selection and payments.
For Brazilian artists living in Ireland, the key message is that Irish citizenship is not a requirement. What matters is having an active professional artistic career, being based in the Republic of Ireland and being able to demonstrate that the work is primarily carried out here.
Although the application window for the current programme has closed, Brazilian artists and other international creative professionals should keep an eye on future application rounds. The scheme represents a significant opportunity for professional artists to gain financial stability and continue developing their careers in Ireland.
