BASEL.- Art Basel announced that over USD 1 million has been raised to support outstanding international art projects since the launch of its Crowdfunding Initiative in September 2014. Thanks to pledges from over 6,700 backers around the world – comprised of supporters from each organization’s local community, the vibrant online Kickstarter community and Art Basel’s highly engaged global audience – 37 art projects have been successfully funded via Art Basel’s curated page on Kickstarter.
The international scope of the Crowdfunding Initiative speaks to the artworld’s increasing diversity, with participating non-profits from around the world – all but one are based outside of Art Basel’s three show locations. Funded projects have come from Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Haiti, Italy, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam, and have been supported by backers from 92 countries.
Spanning a variety of formats, topics and geographies, these wide ranging projects demonstrate the critical role that non-profits play in providing a platform for artists and creative thinkers to sustain a thoughtful, cutting-edge artistic practice. The funds raised through micro-donations have supported projects including studios and residencies in Chiang Mai and Chicago; public art works in Detroit and Rome; a new dance commission in Vancouver; a series of programs exploring the history of performance art in the Arab world in London; and several exhibitions, including an interactive installation in Kabul and the expansion of the first photography festival in Lagos. Additional projects entail artist books, monographs and other education programs in cities such as Colombo, Port-au-Prince, San José and Yangon.
Marc Spiegler, Art Basel’s Global Director, says, ‘We strongly believe that thriving nonprofits – particularly outside of the major art centers – are vital to the health of the artworld ecosystem. The Art Basel Crowdfunding Initiative provides a platform beyond our three main shows and within the digital sphere to connect non-profits with potential funders, allowing these organizations to develop innovative projects that might otherwise not have been realized.’
Patrick Foret, Director of Business Initiatives, adds, ‘We launched the Crowdfunding Initiative to address the urgent need for alternative funding in the arts, and have been inspired by the response. While Art Basel has dedicated resources to the creation and promotion of the initiative, it is truly due to the backers and their generous support that have made it such a success. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Kickstarter to help these organizations flourish and realize exciting new projects.’
