National Campaign For The Arts

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National Campaign For The Arts The National Campaign for the Arts is a broad and inclusive coalition that reflects the scale, reach

BASIC INCOME FOR THE ARTS: MAJOR UPDATEThe Government has secured €34.4 million in Budget 2027 to fully fund the new Bas...
13/10/2026

BASIC INCOME FOR THE ARTS: MAJOR UPDATE
The Government has secured €34.4 million in Budget 2027 to fully fund the new Basic Income for the Arts scheme.

Here’s what you need to know:
–2,000 professional artists will receive €325 per week for three years.
–Up to 750 successful applicants will be notified from Thursday, 15 October.
–All applicants will receive a status update this week.
–Just over 10,000 applications were received.
–Payments will be made monthly at €1,413.21.
–Payments beginning in 2026 will be backdated to September; those beginning in 2027 will be paid from or backdated to January.

This marks a significant milestone for artists in Ireland, establishing a long-term scheme built on the evidence and success of the Basic Income for the Arts Pilot.

Congratulations to Patrick O'Donovan and his department on their work towards this, and in particular former minister Catherine Martin for starting the scheme.

Keep an eye on your email for updates from the Department.
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-culture-communications-and-sport/press-releases/minister-odonovan-announces-notification-of-first-tranche-of-successful-applicants-for-the-new-basic-income-for-the-arts-scheme/

The NCFA’s Co-chair and steering committee member Dobz O'Brien attended the Basic Income for Artists seminar in Aarhus ...
09/10/2026

The NCFA’s Co-chair and steering committee member Dobz O'Brien attended the Basic Income for Artists seminar in Aarhus Denmark this week at Bora Bora to discuss the BIA with our European Art partners, and compare and contract it with other European systems.

Sharing the program was -

- Belgian Social Democrat and award winning musician Frederik Sioen discussing the Belgian support system

- Icelandic president of the Federation of Icelandic Artist’s Jóna Hlíf discussing the The Icelandic Artists Salary Fund

- Head of Culture at the Danish Embassy in Paris and member of the Danish Arts Foundation’s Project Support Committee for Visual Arts Catherine Lefebvre discussing The French Régime des salariés intermittents du spectacle from a Danish perspective

Also in Attendance were Anne Thora Lykkegaard, journalist, Gunnar Madsen (Chair of the Aarhus Arts Council), Signe Klejs (artist, Vice-Chairof the Danish Arts Council), Sara Indrio (Vice-Chair of the Danish Artists’ Association), author Louise Juhl Dalsgaard and a packed audience.

A vital conversation, deeply informative, and inspiring, and much food for thought as the NCFA continue their advocacy for an expanded and statutory BIA.

In light of a particularly challenging Budget, the NCFA welcomes the full funding of the next three years of the Basic I...
07/10/2026

In light of a particularly challenging Budget, the NCFA welcomes the full funding of the next three years of the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA), supporting 2,000 eligible artists.

We also note the Minister’s announcement today that successful applicants will begin to be notified in batches from next week. Given the very high number of applications, it may take a number of weeks for the full allocation to be completed.

The NCFA will continue to work with the Department towards placing the BIA on a statutory footing and expanding the programme to include all eligible artists.

We acknowledge and appreciate the work of Minister Patrick O'Donovan and his Department colleagues on the development of the BIA over recent years.

We have published a joint Arts Sector Response to Budget 2027, signed by:National Campaign for the ArtsISACS NetworkCrea...
07/10/2026

We have published a joint Arts Sector Response to Budget 2027, signed by:

National Campaign for the Arts
ISACS Network
Create
First Music Contact
Performing Arts Forum
Praxis Artists Union
Dance Ireland
Children’s Books Ireland
Irish Theatre Institute
Improvised Music Company
Youth Theatre Ireland

Read it in full here:
https://ncfa.ie/2026/10/07/arts-sector-response-to-budget-2027/

Another look at our Pre-Budget Submission ahead of tomorrow's budget: these have been our priorities as we have met with...
05/10/2026

Another look at our Pre-Budget Submission ahead of tomorrow's budget: these have been our priorities as we have met with party spokespeople, government Ministers, TDs, department officials and local government over the past number of months.

The National Campaign for the Arts believes that Budget 2027 is a defining moment in securing the future of Ireland’s creative sector. The evidence now exists. The need is clear. The opportunity is real.

Through ambitious and sustained investment in artists, cultural infrastructure, research, accessibility and international development, Ireland can become a global leader in recognising the value of culture and the people who create it.

The recommendations in our Pre Budget Submission are grounded in evidence, informed by the lived experiences of artists and arts workers, and driven by a simple principle: when we invest in artists, we invest in Ireland.

Members of the NCFA Steering Committee met with Minister Jack Chambers yesterday to discuss our Pre-Budget Submission on...
16/09/2026

Members of the NCFA Steering Committee met with Minister Jack Chambers yesterday to discuss our Pre-Budget Submission on behalf of Ireland’s arts sector.

During the meeting, we highlighted the ongoing precarity experienced across the sector and emphasised the critical importance of sustaining Ireland’s arts ecology through adequate and sustained government investment.

The NCFA Pre-Budget Submission is available at ncfa.ie

NCFA steering committee finishing up a day of meetings yesterday, including a strategic update with the The Arts Council...
31/07/2026

NCFA steering committee finishing up a day of meetings yesterday, including a strategic update with the The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon in Merrion square.

NCFA LAUNCHES 2027 PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION and ANNOUNCE NEW CO-CHAIRSToday we launch Invest in Artists. Invest in Ireland....
29/07/2026

NCFA LAUNCHES 2027 PRE-BUDGET SUBMISSION and ANNOUNCE NEW CO-CHAIRS

Today we launch Invest in Artists. Invest in Ireland., our Pre-Budget Submission for 2027, calling on the Government to turn the evidence into action.

The reality for artists in Ireland remains stark. 50.7% of artists experience enforced deprivation. Average weekly earnings in Arts and Entertainment are just 65% of the national average, while only 2% of artists own their homes.

Budget 2027 must respond with ambition.

At the centre of our submission is a call to secure the Basic Income for the Arts permanently in law, maintain it at a minimum of €325 per week and expand it to all eligible artists.

NCFA is also calling for at least €180m for the Arts Council, €15m for Culture Ireland and €14m for Creative Ireland, alongside action on housing and workspaces, cultural infrastructure, disability and diversity, taxation, insurance, climate action and research.

In further news today also marks a new chapter for NCFA. After a period of extraordinary leadership and commitment, Maria Fleming steps down as Chair, with our enormous gratitude for everything she has brought to the campaign.

Carla Rogers and Peter Power will now take up the roles of Co-Chairs, working with our Steering Committee, membership and the wider sector to lead NCFA into its next phase.

The evidence now exists.
The need is clear.
The opportunity is real.

Invest in artists. Invest in Ireland.

After a period of extraordinary leadership and commitment, Maria Fleming steps down as Chair, with our enormous gratitude for everything she has brought to the campaign.

Carla Rogers and Peter Power will now take up the roles of Co-Chairs, working with our Steering Committee, membership and the wider sector to lead NCFA into its next phase.

Today at Leinster House, the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport heard submissions on the ...
24/06/2026

Today at Leinster House, the Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport heard submissions on the topic of “Spaces & Infrastructure for Artists.”

and Peter Power appeared before the Committee alongside representatives from the Department, the The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon , and Praxis the Artists' Union of Ireland , contributing to a discussion on the provision of affordable, accessible creative workspaces and cultural infrastructure across Ireland.

Dobz O'Brien and Paul Murray Artist attended the proceedings from the public gallery.

The session highlighted the growing challenges facing artists and arts organisations in securing places to create, develop, and present work, and explored the policy, planning, and investment measures required to support a sustainable creative sector nationwide.

A timely and important discussion on the future of artistic infrastructure in Ireland, and a call loudly made for National Strategy rapidly on the matter.

IrishArts LeinsterHouse CreativeIreland

The NCFA were honoured to meet President Catherine Connolly in Áras an Uachtaráin today, to share with her details of ou...
15/06/2026

The NCFA were honoured to meet President Catherine Connolly in Áras an Uachtaráin today, to share with her details of our ongoing advocacy for the Arts in Ireland. The vital nature of creativity as a bedrock for a compassionate and community-driven society was discussed at length, and we look forward to continuing to champion artists and the Arts in Ireland

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