I am one of the 2,000 recipients of the Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot scheme, a transformative initiative that has provided crucial support to artists across Ireland. This scheme is due to conclude in August 2025, and as of early June, there has been no clear communication from the government regarding its future. This uncertainty is causing real stress and anxiety among artists who have come to depend on this support to sustain not just their livelihoods, but their creative contributions to Irish society. The BIA provides a weekly payment of €325. For me and for the other 2,000 recipients, it has been life changing. Over the past three years, it has enabled us to cover essential costs like rent, bills, and other basic living expenses. It has allowed us to invest in our practices, stay rooted in our communities, and contribute to Ireland’s cultural life with greater freedom and stability. Importantly, this payment is not a handout. We are assessed on it as self-employed individuals, and it is taxed at the standard rate of 20 percent. We are also required to log our time and artistic activity in detail. Every hour spent on our creative work must be entered into a diary. We are regularly surveyed throughout the scheme to measure its outcomes. This is a structured, accountable programme that recognises artistic work as real work. Recipients of the BIA were selected to reflect the full diversity of Ireland’s artistic community—across all disciplines, career stages, geographic regions, age groups, genders, and backgrounds. This includes visual artists, writers, musicians, performers, filmmakers, dancers, and many others working across traditional and contemporary forms. The aim was to create a representative sample of working artists in Ireland—not just elite or high-profile names—so the scheme’s impact could be fairly measured and understood. To have this support cut off abruptly, with no transition plan, would not only be a personal and professional crisis for many artists, but a major setback for the wider creative ecosystem. A recently published 2025 report by Dr. Jenny Dagg provides compelling evidence of the scheme’s success. It documents measurable improvements in artistic output, financial stability, and mental health and wellbeing. The report confirms what we already know: basic income works for artists. It enables us to plan for the future and focus on creating meaningful work. Minister for Arts Patrick O'Donovan has expressed hope that the scheme will be retained, extended, and expanded, but to date, there is no sign of concrete action. With the pilot’s end just weeks away, the lack of a clear commitment is deeply unsettling. We are calling on the government to: 1. Retain the Basic Income for the Arts for current recipients 2. Extend the scheme beyond its pilot phase 3. Expand access to include all eligible artists in Ireland To lose this scheme now, without a roadmap for continuation, would be a serious blow to the artistic and cultural life of our country. It would undo the progress already made in recognising the value of creative work and the people who do it. I am calling on current recipients, artists across Ireland, and members of the public who believe in supporting creativity to sign this petition and urge the government to act now. Keep the BIA alive. Support Ireland’s artists. Secure the future of our cultural sector.

For the vibes 

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to positively influence the trajectory of one of the most interesting and friendly small towns in Ireland with a project which can transform the heart of the town and provide a tourism and visitor hub and attraction for one of the most beautiful surrounding areas, populated with greenways, lakes, walks and other visitor attractions just waiting to be discovered, many of which are wonderfully recalled in the works of the great writer. The McGahern Gateway Centre will provide the opportunity to harness and coalesce in one place the significant local, national and global interest in one the most evocative, elegiac and poetic of prose writers on the world stage of this or any age and to honour and illustrate his life's work in his home town with a centre of appropriate ambition, quality and scale equal to the writer's towering achievements. This project has, of course, the full support of the writer's family. 

Kildare county currently has no facilities for musicians and dancers to develop their works. We would like to see free or affordable hourly rents for small dedicated rehearsal rooms (especially soundproof rooms and sprung floors). As a last resort, we believe that some spaces currently given over to visual artists (and nobody else) should be repurposed for different types of artists who need it more.

It is not acceptable that camogie players are banned from wearing shorts. All we are looking for is choice. 

The Israeli government are massacring the people of Gaza and make the place completely unliveable. By normalising Israelis participation in global events like the Eurovision - that states its values are democracy, solidarity and unity  is deeply cynical and amounts to art washing.  People who work in RTE are demanding that RTE's Director General agrees not to broadcast the Eurovision. A massive public outcry will send a powerful message that people in Ireland are behind them and are not standing by. 

Kneecap are facing a torrent of abuse after their Coachella performance, where they used their platform to highlight the US’s involvement in the ongoing Genocide in Palestine, with some even calling for their US visas to be revoked. Kneecap has been highlighting the ongoing atrocities happening in Gaza since the formation of the group back in 2017. They have used their voice to raise awareness of the situation and to call out the people in power who are carrying out, paying for and supporting a Genocide. This abuse being directed at Kneecap is part of a wider effort to suppress artists' right to speak up on the issues that matter most to us all! We must take a stand against this wherever we see it. If we can get enough people signing this petition, we'll show that the people of Ireland stand with Kneecap and support their pro-Palestinian message.

Protect Dublins unique Georgian architecture and cinematic history,

Dublin is suffering from a lack of public performance and cultural spaces. Support a cross party and community campaign to restore the 19th century Rathmines Town Hall Theatre to its former glory https://www.uplift.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MyUplift-banner-politician-SVG.svg

If we want to live in a world where laws are respected by all and cannot simply be disregarded by those with wealth and power, we have to make a stand against this piracy of Irish (and international) writing by Meta.

Minister for the Arts Patrick O'Donovan is using procurement issues in the Department of Arts and in the Arts Council to try to discredit and undermine the entire arts sector. Now he wants artists to explain what they're doing with their grants. He's trying to whip up controversy to distract from this government's failure to provide a safe home for everyone who needs one and their attempts to undermine our neutrality. Our artists and the arts need more support, not less. By signing this petition, we are taking a stand and showing this government that we stand with the artists of Ireland, that we respect the huge contribution they make to our lives, and that we believe their work should be properly funded. 

Ensuring affordable and accessible halal meat and poultry options in major Irish retailers is not just about meeting the dietary needs of the Muslim community—it’s about fostering inclusion, equity, and mutual respect in a diverse society. Here’s why this matters: 1. Economic Fairness: Many families are struggling with rising costs, and the higher prices of halal-certified products in specialty stores place an additional burden on Muslim households. Access to affordable options can ease financial pressure and ensure fair treatment for all consumers. 2. Cultural Inclusion: Ireland is home to a growing multicultural population. By providing halal-certified products, major retailers can demonstrate their commitment to inclusion, respect for diversity, and the values of a progressive, welcoming society. 3. Convenience and Accessibility: Currently, many families must travel long distances or pay premium prices to access halal meat and poultry. Introducing halal products in major retailers will make it easier for individuals and families to meet their dietary needs without unnecessary hardship. 4. Health and Well-Being: For many, halal food is more than a dietary choice—it’s a fundamental part of their faith and identity. By supporting this campaign, we can ensure that everyone in our community can access food that aligns with their values and beliefs. 5. Support Your Neighbors: Joining this campaign is an act of solidarity with your Muslim neighbors and friends. It’s a way to show that you care about their well-being and believe in equality for all. 6. Build a Stronger Community: When communities work together to address shared challenges, we create a more united, compassionate, and inclusive society. 7. Encourage Positive Change: By advocating for accessible halal products, you’re helping to ensure that businesses adapt to the changing needs of our diverse population, setting a positive example for other industries. 8. Set a Precedent for Inclusion: Supporting this initiative sends a powerful message to policymakers, businesses, and organizations across Ireland that inclusivity is not optional—it’s essential. Together, we can create a fairer, more inclusive Ireland where everyone feels supported and valued. Your signature can make a difference. Join us today!