The Basic Income for the Arts (BIA) pilot programme in Ireland is of international significance as many jurisdictions are trialling or implementing similar programmes to address income precarity of artists. This paper investigates the politico-administrative mechanisms that not only enabled the pilot scheme to become government policy but also seem to have ushered in a change in approach to cultural policy in Ireland. The authors offer a critical analysis of the scheme, including the design and implementation of the policy as well as the future policy questions of the scheme as part of Irish policymaking. Early advocacy and Government rhetoric has strongly focused on the intrinsic value of the arts and on valuing artists. This paper will explore how artistic values relate to labour values.