In the last two months it has:
- become a global movement of support for artists and makers by other artists, makers and art collectors
- generated 174,804 posts on Instagram (it had generated 175,277 posts by the time I finished this post!)
- collected 41k followers on the Artist Support Pledge Instagram account
How the Artist Support Pledge works
This is how the Artist Support Pledge works in terms of raising money for artists:
- First of all you need to post an ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE logo and text to
- explain how the system works and
- alert people to the fact you are participating
- (The Instagram post above provides the detailed explanation)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists around the world have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support, gallery work, exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress @matthewburrowsstudio has instigated the #artistsupportpledgeThe concept is a simple one. You post images of your work to sell for no more than $200 (£200, €200, ¥20000) each (not including shipping.) Anyone can then buy the work. Every time you reach $1000 of sales you pledge to buy another artist's work for $200.
- Artists post an image of their work, on their Instagram account which they are willing to sell for no more than £200 each (i.e. not including shipping).
- Make sure you include
- details of the work (eg media / size / original / print etc) and
- price (no more than 200USD, 200GDP, 200 EURO or 20000JPY)
- you can price for less than £200
- Add #artistsupportpledge (NB: singular - one ‘s’ not two i.e. artist+support+pledge)
- Follow #artistsupportpledge to see the work posted by other artists
- Anyone can buy the work.
- Ask for anyone interested to DM you
- Fulfil your pledge and buy another artist's work for £200 + delivery when you have made £1,000 in sales (and, I suggest, have been paid!) i.e. sell £1,000 and net £800 + a new artwork for your collection!)
- Keep updated on new opportunities and announcements @artistsupportpledge
Other hashtags used by those participating are:
- #supportartists
- #covid19
- #coronavirus
- #livegenerously
MY TIPS
- PLEASE DO NOT post art if you're NOT a career artist whose livelihood is currently in jeopardy due to Coronavirus. There's way too much amateur art being posted by people who cannot possibly be paying their household and business bills through the sale of their art. That, to my mind, is just plain selfish and attention-seeking given the intention of this project is to support those self-employed professional artists who have lost their ability to earn their normal income e.g. from sales of exhibited paintings in art galleries and art fairs, teaching art to students and the normal sort of work which many professional artists engage in.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support and gallery work. Exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress I have instigated the ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE #artistsupportpledge (Matthew Burrows)
- DO NOT be one of the very silly artists who uses the hashtag but doesn't follow the rules
- DO NOT post "tat" and ask £200 - it devalues both the project and the pledge - and it also won't sell! I checked out all the artists I didn't know in the curated list below....
- DO NOT use the #artistsupportpledge UNLESS you are participating properly. It's sadly become one of those generic hashtags which people include willy nilly!
- DO calculate package and shipping costs before you post for different places e.g. UK only - you're likely to get more responses
- DO post work for less than £200.
- Your artwork does not have to be valued at £200
- You have the option to sell more artworks for less money.
- This works particularly well for those selling prints
Who has contributed to the Artist Support Pledge?
Here are some of the artists and artworks which have been posted for the Art Support Pledge
I'm posting good quality artwork by those taking the pledge seriously.
Below I've identified five artists - and will do a curated collection of another five artists next week if you like the idea.
Gareth Reid - who won Portrait Artist of the Year in 2017 and was the portrait painter for Portrait Artist of the Week yesterday (on Facebook Live) was an early contributor. He is selling prints of his drawing.
He also provides an excellent example of how to detail your work on your post.
Janis Goodman is a printmaker who lives in Leeds and creates etchings. She had the great idea of:
- making all artwork available on her website which qualified eligible for the pledge sales.
- enabling socially distanced collections for those living in North Leeds
Anna Harley is another printmaker - with great details about her offer and do take a good look at her Instagram account where she has more fabulous prints of trees.
Liz Shippam of Chichester in Sussex is a botanical artist who is participating in the pledge and is offering digital prints of her artwork which sells for rather more than £200! She's exhibited in the past in New York as well as London and Sussex.
Wildlife artist Esther Tyson is posting paintings of birds and it looks to me as if you have to be really fast to get one before it's sold!
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