February 11, 2026
UBI or just an art-lotto?
Ireland rolls out pioneering basic income scheme for artists
‘Permanent’ arts paycheck? Commenters call it a rotating lottery
TLDR: Ireland will pay 2,000 artists €325 a week on rotating three‑year terms, after a trial showed big wellbeing gains and even net returns. Commenters love the support but roast the branding—calling it a lottery-like grant, not “universal” income—and bicker over assigning a cash value to happiness.
Ireland just made an arts basic income permanent—kind of. The plan pays 2,000 creators €325 a week for three years, then rotates them out. Officials say it’s the first permanent scheme of its kind and point to a trial that cut hardship and anxiety, even claiming it recouped more than its €72m net cost. Launched in the James Joyce Room (because of course), the rollout had commenters asking: permanent for the policy, sure—but not for the people.
The hottest meme: “art-lotto.” User OsrsNeedsf2P nailed the vibe with “So it’s permanent, but the recipients don’t get it permanently?” That set off a labeling war. Is this UBI—short for universal basic income—or just a rotating grant? Legend2440 wasn’t having it: if only 2,000 artists get picked, “universal” this is not. Supporters clapped back that trying something beats doing nothing. As shevy-java put it, the idea is sound, even if the weekly amount is up for debate.
Then came the spreadsheet drama. abe94 dropped the government’s cost-benefit report, noting it uses the WELLBY framework to literally put a price on wellbeing—a move that had data nerds nodding and skeptics side-eyeing. Meanwhile, HN veterans like yesfitz resurfaced past threads to show this fight’s been brewing. TL; picture a cultural flex with a fine print twist—and a comments section split between “bravo” and “bravo… but make it universal”
Key Points
- •Ireland launched a permanent basic income scheme for 2,000 artists, paying €325 per week.
- •The program follows a three-year trial started in 2022 to aid post-pandemic recovery in the arts.
- •Recipients are randomly selected and funded for three years, then ineligible for the next cycle.
- •A report found reduced deprivation, anxiety, and reliance on supplementary income among participants.
- •A cost-benefit analysis said the trial recouped more than its €72 million net cost via economic gains.