Art Basel launches Crowdfunding Initiative with Kickstarter to support non-profit visual arts organizations
Art Basel today announced its new digital initiative in partnership with Kickstarter, the online fundraising platform for creative projects. The Art Basel Crowdfunding Initiative will aim to catalyze international support for non-profit visual arts organizations worldwide by promoting outstanding projects to Art Basel's extensive global audience. Art Basel's curated page on Kickstarter will feature a wide variety of art projects, selected by an independent jury, comprised of: Hammad Nasar, curator, writer and Head of Research and Programmes at the Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong; Glenn Phillips, Acting Head of the Department of Architecture and Contemporary Art at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles; and Mari Spirito, Founding Director of Protocinema, Istanbul and New York.

With this new initiative, Art Basel will support the non-profit sector of the artworld, at a time when public funding for the arts has been dwindling. Designed specifically for nonprofit arts organizations, the Art Basel Crowdfunding Initiative will offer visibility and support for a wide variety of artistic projects, including non-profit exhibitions, public installations, films, artist books, education programs, artist residencies, talks, conservation and archiving, and other innovative art projects.

On Kickstarter's site, thousands of projects are finding support at any given moment. Each project is independently created by the person or organization behind it, with every project creator setting their project's funding goal and deadline. If people find the project compelling, they can pledge money toward it. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing: If the project succeeds in reaching its funding goal, the full amount is released to the creator when time expires. If the project falls short, no money is transferred. For non-profit organizations, the combination of Art Basel's global audience and Kickstarter’s proven funding mechanism can open up a new opportunity for fundraising and building awareness. The initiative connects Kickstarter's platform – where over the past five years more than $1.3 billion has been pledged by more than 6.9 million people, funding more than 69,000 creative projects – with Art Basel's global network of over 500 galleries, 230,000 attendees across its three shows, and an online community counting more than 290,000 on Facebook, 139,000 on Twitter, 76,000 on Instagram, and 76,000 on Google+.

Organizations applying to Art Basel’s Crowdfunding Initiative on Kickstarter will be reviewed and selected by an independent jury comprised of: Hammad Nasar, curator, writer and Head of Research and Programmes at the Asia Art Archive, Hong Kong Glenn Phillips, Acting Head of the Department of Architecture and Contemporary Art at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles; and Mari Spirito, Founding Director of Protocinema, Istanbul and New York.

 Sydney's 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art proposes staging “Actions for Tomorrow” by Chinese art collective Yangjiang Group in Sydney’s Chinatown neighborhood. The project pushes the boundaries of traditional Chinese calligraphy by exploring ideas of collective action through large-scale architectural constructions, video projections and public performances.

 Gasworks, a London-based organization that promotes the exchange of ideas between international and local artists through exhibitions and residencies in London and at partner organizations in Cuba, China, South Africa, Kenya and India, asks for support to construct additional studios for emerging artists in South London.

 SASSAS (Society for the Activation of Social Space through Art and Sound), an organization that produces concerts in the greater Los Angeles area that re-contextualize sound and place, plans to host a free public concert of contemporary sound works in the hills outside of Los Angeles.

 SculptureCenter in New York City looks to raise funds to present a major retrospective for leading Thai artist, Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook. It would be her first museum survey in the United States.

As the jury reviews additional applications, new projects will be added on an ongoing basis. Projects will be selected for their overall quality, innovation, creativity and viability, representing the strength, diversity and future vitality of non-profit arts organizations worldwide. “Our Crowdfunding Initiative will bring new support and visibility to one of the areas where it is most needed in today's artworld – those non-profit arts organizations worldwide that serve as the foundation and testing ground for so many important cultural projects.” Marc Spiegler, Director, Art Basel “Incredible art has come to life via Kickstarter – everything from giant murals to interactive performances to new studio spaces for young talent. We're thrilled that world-class art projects from top non-profits will have the chance to find support on Kickstarter, and to be bolstered by the Art Basel community.” Yancey Strickler, Kickstarter CEO and cofounder