An expansion of the Basic Income for The Arts Scheme, a revitalised night-time economy and a new Popular Music Archive were among the promises made by Minister Catherine Martin and her Green Party colleagues Neasa Hourigan TD and Councillor Hazel Chu this morning.

Should the Greens be re-elected in Friday's general election, Arts and Culture Minister Catherine Martin announced that the Basic Income for the Arts pilot will be expanded to include an extra 1,000 participants, at a cost of €15 million, with an ultimate goal of making the weekly payment available to "all artists."

The scheme, which Minister Martin described as "groundbreaking", was launched in 2022 saw payments of €325 per week made to 2,000 eligible artists and creative arts workers.

"The idea would be year one to expand by 1000 and keep expanding until we continue to reach more and more artists," Minister Martin said.  "It's absolutely essential that this rolls out to all artists. They must be given the space to create. We have seen the research, the creative output is improving, but also the mental well-being of our artists. They're the people who we lean into at the best of times and at the worst of times, they are who we depend on, and they go to the very core of our identity as a nation."

Minister Martin also said that the Greens would establish a Popular Music Archive of Ireland.

"We have demonstrated our commitment to the pop heritage by welcoming Rory Gallagher's iconic Stratocaster to the National Museum," she said. "The Irish record industry has launched the careers of many talented artists, yet people interested in Ireland's recent pop music often have to travel to the British National Library in London  to access physical copies of albums by Irish acts.

"Our pop heritage includes tiny DIY bands, land labels, show rounds and sound stacks and artists who have sold millions of records. We want to look to the US, the Smithsonian is the gold standard for collecting pop music. England has the British Pop Archive in Manchester and we want that for our researchers here too."

Minister Catherine Martin alongside BIA recipients at Na Píobairí Uilleann. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Dublin Central TD Neasa Hourigan outlined plans to revamp the night-time economy, saying that the Greens  "would commit to expanding the department of arts funding for nightlife to 10 million per annum over the course of the next government."

"Our manifesto commits to rolling out new supports for the night-time economy," said Hourigan. "Those will have to be based on an enactment of the Intoxicating Liquors Bill 2024. This will allow for longer opening hours and put us on par with our European neighbours.

"The Green Party will also provide financial incentives for live venues to support the development of new creative acts. Grassroots music venues support artists and musicians at the start of their career and the Greens want to support venues to help nurture our up-and-coming artists."

Updated laws regarding the night-time sector have been a topic of much discussion and frustration within Irish creative communities and late-night businesses for a number of years, with changes to legislation having been delayed by the current government on on numerous occasions. 

"There might be a lack of understanding about the economic opportunity of opening up our towns and our cities to a night-time economy," Minister Martin said, when asked by reporters if there has been resistance from Fianna Fáil and Fianna Gael. "There's no resistance from the Green Party. We wanted this to be delivered."

Martin also took aim at her coalition partners' performance on climate.

"To really get on top of climate action you do need more parties taking this issue seriously," she said. "What is alarming is that the three main parties, one who would probably hold the office of Taoiseach, are failing and failing miserably. It's alarming, but not surprising having been in government with two of those parties."

(L to R) Green Party representatives Councillor Hazel Chu, Minister Catherine Martin and TD Neasa Hourigan. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Having announced the establishment of a National Women's Museum, "to celebrate the accomplishments of women from all walks of life from fashion, art, business, retail, writing, politics, sports and beyond, the Green Party representatives also commented on the "bravery and courage" of Nikita Hand, after a jury at the High Court found MMA fighter Conor McGregor had sexually assaulted the 35-year-old in a hotel in Dublin in December 2018.

"Apart from applauding her bravery and what she is doing for survivors of sexual violence and assault, one thing to note is that during the trial, the judge was very clear that when the defence was putting up the claim that 'she did not act like a victim of sexual violence', we need to start understanding that there is no way, one way or another, that someone who survives sexual assault should act," commented Councillor Chu.

"There shouldn't be that stigma upon survivors of sexual assault on how they should act, and we need to move away from that rhetoric and misinformation being pushed upon women."