Sp4 — ART FOR CHANGE

BROOKLYN | Founder Jeanne Masel takes a novel approach to the business of philanthropy in the arts industry

WORDS BY BEN MCHUTCHION

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Philanthropy plays an important and highly visible role in the arts sector. Many cultural ventures, which might otherwise be financially unviable, like symphony orchestras, theatre groups, the work of early-career artists, and (ahem) magazines, are sponsored by both charitable foundations and individual patrons. ART FOR CHANGE is an admirable case study of community-building within the art market, facilitating both economic and social engagement by creating a marketplace that appeals to socially conscious art collectors and artists.

Jeanne Masel - Photo by Weston Wells, Courtesy of ART FOR CHANGE

The social engagement of ART FOR CHANGE deserves a close look. The organization functions as a platform where three sides of the art world meet, creating opportunities for artists, collectors, and nonprofits. The work done by Founder Jeanne Masel is especially notable for nurturing personal relationships with emerging artists, including conducting in-person visits to artists’ studios and collaborating with artists to produce specially commissioned works. Artists who sell work with ART FOR CHANGE receive half of sale proceeds, while a further portion of sales goes to support the work of non-profit organizations. This mix of business and philanthropy raises some perhaps uncomfortable questions. Is the business model of ART FOR CHANGE sustainable? And if it is, can other businesses be similarly transformed to better compensate creators and give back to communities? In both cases, time will be the revelator.

Patricia Renee’ Thomas, Boardwalk (With Fries), 2022, 21 x 21 inches, Archival pigment print, Limited edition of 15 with 7AP and 1PP, Hand-embellished, signed and numbered by the artist, Courtesy of ART FOR CHANGE

ART FOR CHANGE’s admirable claim that the organization makes artworks “financially accessible to the general public” and “art accessible to everyone” could be moderated. As of writing, the lowest price on the ART FOR CHANGE webshop was $250 (USD) for one limited edition print. While this cost may be accessible in the context of the overall art market, such prices will remain unfeasible for many budgets. In considering this point, it causes me to wonder whether valuations that offer fair compensation to artists will always be slightly unaffordable for a significant portion of the population. Rephrasing these claims as making art “more financially accessible,” I can agree that the project creates an opportunity for those with some financial wiggle room to enter the art market and purchase a work they love, with the additional benefit of supporting a philanthropic effort. And that is a development worth celebrating.