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SAROJA COELHO, TALIA SCHLANGER (HOSTS): TS: Ireland is known for many things - its rolling green hills, the perfect pour of Guinness, and its vibrant music and arts scene. But the realities of BEING an artist in Ireland aren't always as attractive. The precarity experienced by many artists all over the world was amplified during the Covid Pandemic. Back in 2022, Ireland's federal government announced a pilot program that would give a basic weekly income to reduce the strain on arts workers. They would receive €325 a week - which amounts to roughly $2,000 Canadian a month. That pilot is set to come to an end this winter - but the Irish government recently announced its intention to make the program permanent. Elinor O'Donovan is a visual artist who has been participating in the pilot program. We reached her in Dublin. SC: Elinor, you've been in your studio all afternoon working. Can you tell me what kind of art you make? ELINOR O'DONOVAN: So, I'm a visual artist who makes films, among other things, including installations, drawings, sculptures, and digital media art as well. SC: And you first joined this program when it launched as a pilot in 2022. Maybe you could tell us a little bit about what the program offers artists. EO: So as part of the Basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme, 2,000 artists were randomly selected to receive €325 a week for the duration of the pilot. So I've been receiving that now for the last three years. It was just supposed to be a three-year scheme, but it's been extended to three-and-a-half years, so I'll keep getting €325 a week until February 2026. SC: And how does that impact your life? EO: Yeah, it's been pretty huge, to be honest. It's been really transformative for my work and for my wellbeing in general. When I found out I was going to receive the basic Income for the Arts pilot scheme, I quit my part-time job, which meant that I was able to work as an artist full-time for the last three or so years....