Basic Income For Arts 2026 – Not Selected Edition

So you weren’t selected for the Basic Income Scheme for Arts, now what?(2026)

As the responses to applications for the basic income to arts 2026 have started to arrive, lots of artists are celebrating good news. Some are still in limbo and hovering in a no news is good news spot. You are right, no news is good news. There is still every likelihood that you will receive your own good news soon. This first iteration of the scheme can only support 2000 artists and the department of of culture communications & sport has issues assurances that all applicants will be contacted and informed of their status. So, what happens if you don’t get selected this time

Here’s what you MUST do next:

Feel Disappointed

It’s natural to feel disappointed or upset. To be included and receive the funds was something you had allowed yourself to look forward to. What’s very important now though, is to not let the disappointment turn into disillusion or loss of motivation. Feel your disappointment  but only briefly. Hanging on to the negativity of not receiving it will hamper your art business’ progress. It’s understandable that you will feel disappointed not to have been selected but now is the time to push forward with your other plans for growing your practice, generating opportunities and sales

Learn

This is a great lesson in not putting all your eggs in one basket. If you were relying solely on being selected for the scheme and have made no other plans you’ll have learned the hard way to not do that.

Take a good look at the correspondence you received. What feedback can you glean from it that you can use to your advantage? We already know your application was eligible, otherwise it would have been rejected at the point of submission. This tells you a lot about the status of your practice. You have a significant level of experience under your belt, this refusal doesn’t take that away from you. It just means that the only thing that went against you was simply a matter of numbers, not that you didn’t complete the application correctly or didn’t meet the criteria. It also means that there is absolutely no reason not to try again when the application window reopens in three years time.

If you experienced a different reason for rejection along the way. Take that on board and be sure not to make the same mistake next time.

Remember

-This was/is a unique opportunity afforded to artists to support their creative practice. Unique to Ireland and unique to the sector. Similar schemes don’t exist everywhere else and where they do, the arts community is much larger making competition greater. Also, other professions rarely get the same kind of supports offered to them. When these schemes or similar arise, take full advantage, get your hat in the ring while maintaining awareness of the fortunate position made available to you.

-To stand back and take an objective look at the situation. There were funds allocated for a total of 2000 artists. over 10,000 artists applied, Demand was always going to outweigh supply. The scheme will reopen in 2029.

-This first round is just the beginning. If you feel the criteria for eligibility or selection was too strict, you might be right, but there is time and room for change both in the application system and in your own practice.

Give Yourself a Pat on the Back

You played a vital role in communicating to the government the need and demand for supports of this nature by submitting your application for the basic income for arts 2026. You have contributed to the sector as a whole and done something very valuable for your community.

And one more thing…

Not being eligible to apply and not getting selected both have significant positives.

If you weren’t eligible, you have a clear road map now on the areas of your practice that you can focus on in order to put yourself in a better position next time.

If you didn’t get selected this round you know your application stacked up against the artists that were selected and you too can see the importance of the hard work you put in to reach the eligibility standard and why these achievements are so pivotal in terms of your artists profile.

No matter what camp you are in you have three years to build towards an even stronger place, and that’s not just in relation to getting on this scheme, it’s even more so about a having a timeline for realising your potential.

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