Musicians Call for Basic Income Fund to Support Their Careers in Northern Ireland

Musicians in Northern Ireland urge the government to introduce a basic income for artists, citing high costs and financial instability. Similar schemes in Ireland have proven beneficial, enabling artists to focus on their craft and support struggling venues.

Financial Challenges of Being a Musician

From lessons and instruments to travelling to gigs and funding initial demos, the expenses involved in pursuing a career in music can accumulate rapidly. Singer-songwriter Sonja Sleator highlighted that the financial burden of her passion "comes out of my own pocket." She is among three musicians advocating for the Northern Ireland government to introduce a basic income for artists, similar to the scheme in the Republic of Ireland, where a programme paying €325 (£283) weekly to certain musicians and artists has recently been made permanent.

Sleator explained that such support would provide artists "the chance to be able to produce more work, just be creative and just actually have the time to invest in something that I love to do." Based in Belfast and also performing with a band, she believes this would positively impact struggling venues by enabling artists to "get in there and play and bring the people in."

Lauren Dawson Lisa is outside. She has a brown bob and is wearing a black top. Some foliage is behind her. — Singer and pianist Lisa Dawson says a basic income "would really get you through those couple of months"

In 2026, being an artist extends beyond playing instruments or singing; many musicians have become their own social media and marketing managers, book their own gigs, and publish new songs on platforms such as Spotify. Sleator noted,

"Being a musician is a really expensive way of work. You have to pay for recording, you've got to pay for petrol to get to the gigs, you have to pay for practice space,"

A spokesperson from the Department for Communities stated:

"The work of artists and the contribution they make to the quality of life of people in Northern Ireland is understood and valued. This is a programme that we continue to follow but there is currently no provision in the budget and no plans at this stage to replicate it."

Financial Stability and Support

Lisa Dawson, a singer and pianist from Islandmagee, shared that a weekly income would alleviate many financial concerns. She described herself as "fortunate" to have a teaching job for most of the year, providing a steady wage, but acknowledged that during summer months "there's months where I have nothing coming in." She added,

"Something like that would really get you through those couple of months."

Dawson explained that she must budget carefully for quieter periods and is "constantly planning ahead." While some grants are available for artists in Northern Ireland, she described them as "almost impossible" to locate.

"A lot of the projects I do are just self-funded and I just kind of hope I make money back from tickets, or the odd time that I'll get a gig from the council if they've received funding."

Megan Doherty Susie Blue is sitting with a hand resting. A lantern is in the background. — Singer-songwriter Susie Blue says a basic income "would mean that musicians could actually take time to be musicians rather than have to worry about their day job"

Planning and Funding Challenges

Susie Blue, a Belfast-based singer-songwriter, emphasized her dedication to music, stating that "art isn't a luxury, it's a necessity." She believes funding would allow musicians to focus on their craft without the distraction of day jobs. Blue said,

"Funding would mean that musicians could actually take time to be musicians rather than have to worry about their day job."

She noted that every musician she knows holds a day job, whether in the arts or other sectors such as cafes or offices. Sometimes, these roles are within the arts industry itself, involving booking gigs or production work. Blue added,

"It would be great to have something where we could just take a minute and actually do what we want."

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI), funded by the Department for Communities and the National Lottery, offers some financial assistance to artists. Blue acknowledged that while some grants exist, "they can't help everyone," and added,

"You're very lucky if you get those grants."

She also pointed out the difficulty in planning ahead as a musician, stating,

"It's hard to know what you want to do next year when you're a musician, because you don't know if you'll have the funds. It's hard to plan something and apply for funding just to have the funding cancelled or denied."

Impact of Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts

Alison O'Donnell, a singer-songwriter based in Dublin, was among the first recipients of the Republic of Ireland's Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) project. She described the scheme as "the envy of a lot of countries." At 73 years old, O'Donnell finds the programme invaluable, as she "can't get a pension because I've spent the last 29 years making music."

Marc Lynch Alison is onstage. She's singing in front of a mic with her hands up. She wears glasses and has long hair. She's wearing a silver necklace and a watch. — Singer-songwriter Alison O'Donnell lives in Dublin and was one of the first recipients of BIA

Before receiving BIA, O'Donnell said she had not "been able to put as much money into my craft as I would like," but the income has "made a huge difference." The support has enabled her to pay a PR company to promote an album, cover production costs, and hire musicians such as a cellist and violinist, which she previously could not afford. She also mentioned that the income has allowed her to "do a lot of things in the home" and provide guidance and support to other musicians. O'Donnell stated,