I been prepared for the Basic Income for the Arts Scheme but specifically now the guidelines have been published I want to share what I have prepared ahead of the application portal opening on Wednesday 15th April 2026.

What is the Basic Income for the Arts?

A payment of €325 weekly for professional artists aged 18 and over, based in the Republic of Ireland that can demonstrate an active professional artistic practice (no amateurs or aspiring artists). This payment will be given to eligible artists for 3 years starting in September 2026, however the first payment will be a lump sum at the end of December 2026.

What have I done to prepare as a trans-disciplinary artist?

1. This year I have taken time away from applying for funding, grants or publications related to art. I have been focusing on my art, health, connecting with others and this Basic Income for the Arts.
2. I reviewed the mediums that had enough white man paperwork and ultimately my music had the most documentation/recognition with Irish institutions
3. When I started my music career in 2024 (debut single Scared For the Climate - April 2024) I joined IMRO, PPI and RAAP to ensure I got paid any royalties I was owed. I have also signed up to American music institutions SoundExchange and TheMLC.
4. I currently use TooLost to distribute my music to streaming platforms, it's $19.99 a year for one artist and even if I stop paying they don't take down my music they take 20% of my royalties. The ability to upload Dolby Atmos audio files made TooLost an attractive distributor above others. They were the third distributor I experimented with.
5. To promote my music and get information on music opportunities in Ireland I created a profile on Breaking Tunes which is a discovery portal and community for music on the island of Ireland. I believe I created this profile in June 2024.
6. August 2025 I joined A4Sounds, an Irish workspace and gallery in Dublin. I attended the "How To Be An Artist" program in Autumn last year and participated in virtual Group Crit sessions but I have decided to cancel my membership due to my financial situation as well as feeling like a token in a primarily white space.
7. Last year I composed music for my poetry film "Seabed" (2026) and January 2026 I submitted the credits to IMDb.
8. Earlier in the year I applied for Artists Tax Exemption which I was granted it at the beginning of March 2026.
9. After feeling unsupported by my union IWW, particularly the Literature Committee I enquired about joining the Musicians Union of Ireland with SIPTU. This application is still in progress as I only submitted it last weekend.
10. I printed the Sample Application Survey and completed it by hand this weekend.

Am I eligible?

Yes because:

• I have an active arts practice
• I'm over 18 years old
• I can provide at least two proofs of evidence of my career in the arts in the Republic of Ireland from the last 3 years
• I am not an Aosdána member in receipt of the Cnaus payment
• My practice is primarily based in Ireland
• I am not in full time education nor will I be from Oct 2026 to the end of 2029
• I am primarily based in Ireland and will be for the duration of the payment  
• I have an operational email address which will remain in place for at least 3 years
• I have an operational SEPA reachable bank account which can receive payment
• I have an operational phone number I can be contacted on
• I have three pieces of proofs/evidences

What proofs will I be submitting?

I have 7 potential documents to submit as proof:

• Artists Exemption (as of 1st April 2026)
• Breaking Tunes listing
• IMRO Writers Membership
• RAAP Membership
• Published credit in Seabed, 2026
• Rheumatological Blues 2025 single release
• Work reviewed in online press: Hot Press, Feb 2025

I think I will be submitting with:

1. Artist Exemption (Irish, Income)
2. Hot Press feature (Irish, Active practice)
3. RAAP Membership (Irish, Membership)

What's next?

I will be attending a Basic Income Guidelines Webinar hosted online by First Music Contact/Breaking Tunes on Monday 13th April 2026.

At 1pm Wednesday 15th April 2026 the portal will open and I will submit my application before the deadline 5pm Tuesday 12th May 2026.

Then my application will enter a lottery, this will be an anonymised random sampling process and I will be chosen as one of the 2000 eligible artists to receive the basic income.

My proofs/evidence will be verified.

My name will be published, I will need to show proof I am registered to be taxed as a self-employed person.

I get my first lump sum payment at the end of 2026.

For more on the scheme view the full guidance published by the Department of Culture, Communication and Sport.