Irish Government Gives Musicians Weekly Grants

The Irish government has rolled out a new “basic income” scheme in which 2,000 artists, including many musicians, receive a weekly payment of €325 ($329.44) to help with living and professional expenses.

A basic income scheme for the arts was announced by the Irish government in January 2022 and is now being paid out.

The Irish government plans to spend €25 million ($25.3 million) on the program over the next three years.

Apply for the scheme April 12th and May 12th“More than 9,000 people applied for the scheme, and 2,000 people were anonymously and randomly selected to receive the income.” BBC reports.

The impetus for the scheme was a task force set up to consider how artists could be helped following the “unprecedented damage” the pandemic has done to the industry. The most obvious being the closure of venues and theaters and the cancellation of music events. art festival.

The task force was headed by Catherine Martin, Minister of Ireland. Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports & Media.

“Number 1 Recommendation from the Task Force Report life worth report It was to pilot a basic income scheme for three years in the fields of arts, culture, audiovisuals, live performances and events,” the Irish government said.

The scheme is not a tested vehicle and successful applicants are expected to maintain the quality of social welfare payments (if applicable) and to be able to earn income from their work.

The capital Dublin has the most (746), followed by Cork (212) and Galway (148).

Visual artists dominated the award-winning professionals, with more than 700 eligible for grants, musicians (584), filmmakers (204), writers (184) and actors (170). Continue.

Over 50 awardees from various professions work and perform in the Irish language.

The Irish government called the scheme “Breakthrough”.

In a statement, Minister Martin said: “Today is a historic day for the arts in Ireland and has brought about a significant change in the way Ireland recognizes and supports artists. The Basic Income Pilot Scheme for the Arts will: A once-in-a-generation initiative, it demonstrates Ireland’s value in art and artistic practice, both in terms of its intrinsic value and our individual and collective well-being, as well as the global It makes a strong statement about the importance of our identity and cultural identity on a global stage.”

The Irish Music Rights Organization (IMRO), a performing rights organization, Main research in 2017 It surveyed the size and value of Ireland’s music industry, stating that it supports 13,131 jobs nationwide. The population of Ireland in 2017 was 4.8 million people.

According to IMRO, the core music industry generates nearly €445.4 million ($450.7 million) annually and music’s total GVA (Gross Value Added) contribution to the Irish economy is €703 million (7 $112 million).

Basic Income for the Arts is a pioneering scheme designed to help the arts bounce back after the impact of the pandemic. The Irish Government clearly recognizes the arts as an area in need of investment and support, both in terms of its contribution to the national economy and its importance to Ireland’s export potential.

No other government in Europe has a comparable funding plan.

As more and more musicians struggle to make a living in the streaming era, there is increasing pressure on record labels, music publishers and streaming services to better pay creators.of #BrokenRecord Campaign In the UK, it helped bring this debate to government, #FixStreaming.

Musicians have been hit hard during the pandemic. Various correspondence To help them, though, something long-term is essential to help them get back to normal properly.

Action by the Irish government Favorite model of the Medici familybut provides a template for governments (or governments that value the arts) to follow.