NEW YORK, NY.- In the week following the launch of the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) Relief Fund, donations from all sectors of the arts community have more than doubled the grant monies available to galleries and non-profit organizations affected by Hurricane Sandy. Pledges have come from galleries, private collectors, publications, and other non-profits and industry supporters to bring the total funds available to over $500,000.

Following a walk through and visit to some of the impacted galleries with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, ADAA President, Lucy Mitchell-Innes reflects on the contributions of her colleagues, noting, “This has been an extraordinary time for the art community to come together. Galleries uptown and out of town, and even galleries that have been impacted themselves have joined forces to support those galleries in need that mean so much to the art world’s overall wellbeing. Along with generous donations from private collectors, and other supporters these significant financial contributions have prepared the ADAA Relief Fund to meet the needs of galleries recovering from the storm.”

Contributions to the ADAA Relief Fund are an investment in the future of the arts community, and Art Basel’s $50,000 donation is a commitment to that community. Art Basel Director Marc Spiegler explains, “Having seen firsthand the devastating effects of the storm upon so many of Chelsea’s galleries, it is clear that its impact will last far past the point of when the spaces reopen. There is an urgent need to help these small businesses bridge this difficult period, so Art Basel has joined the ADAA Relief Fund’s initiative, which provides critical support - not only for our exhibitors, but for many other important players in New York’s art scene. And we urge others to help in whatever way they can.”

Over $250,000 in total contributions to the fund have already been received, including $50,000 contributions from The Pace Gallery, Mitchell-Innes & Nash, and David Zwirner. Significant support was also provided by Rena Bransten Gallery, Tibor deNagy, Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, Inc., Forum Gallery, Sean Kelly Gallery, Barbara Krakow Gallery, Dominique Levy, Metro Pictures, Mnunchin Gallery and Dorsey Waxter. Private collectors such as Peter and Jill Kraus and Howard and Cindy Rachofsky’s foundation, TWOxTWO for AIDS and Art, have contributed significantly, and publications such as ARTFORUM, The Art Newspaper, and ARTnews are promoting the fund. The fund has also received notable contributions from other arts organizations, such as: Art.sy, ArtSpace, Association of Professional Art Advisors, FITZ & CO, and ICI.

Supporters of the fund, Paul Kasmin Gallery, Pace Prints, Hotel Americano, and Artspace.com have also joined forces to produce a limited edition print, and hold a Hurricane Relief event to benefit the ADAA Relief Fund. The benefit print, based on artist William N. Copley’s work Think (Flag) 1972 and produced in collaboration with Pace Prints and the William N. Copley Estate, will be sold on Artspace.com, for $200 each with 100% of proceeds going toward the ADAA Relief Fund and the Hurricane Sandy Relief party will be held on Friday, November 16th and will be hosted by Paul Kasmin Gallery, Artspace.com, and Hotel Americano. Other benefit partners for the initiative include The Aesthete, Art Production Fund, Billy Farrell Agency, FAIR, FITZ & CO, Pace Prints, PK SHOP, and the William N. Copley Estate/CPLY LLC.