Art: An Essential Need

“The beauty will save the world.”

– Dostojevski

 

In order to create a virtual connection against the physical walls of isolation, and to raise funds to support artists on the African continent, we asked the artists to share their thoughts and artworks to collect the necessary material for the creation of an eBook available on a Crowdfunding platform together with limited edition prints and original works from guest artists. The money collected in exchange for the eBook, limited edition prints and original works from guest artists will create the Emergency Grants. All participating artists will benefit equally.

 

Despite the feeling of impotence in the face of a deadly invisible virus, and the forced and needed self-enclosure to fight it, we believe it is necessary to engage in something concrete and take the actions we can, despite an unclear future.

At Art And About Africa we find it really important – now more than ever – to be highly receptive and invest the majority of our effort into transforming, for the better, this radical event that is rapidly changing our society.

As a global lockdown persists and affects billions of people and the world economy suffers, some of the African communities are seeing the prices of every commodity rising and the supply shortages, and this may just worsen in the long run.

As the platform which aims to provide as much information on contemporary art from the African continent as possible, we decided to launch #ARTANESSENTIALNEED, the Emergency Grants.
Art in all its forms, through music, movies, visuals, and much more, is helping us all during our time in quarantine.
But, who is helping the Artist?

With our contribution, in exchange for the publication and the artworks, we can make sure that artists and their art will endure and continue into the future. Together, we can support the artists living in Africa to overcome this challenging moment, as art fairs have been postponed, galleries temporarily closed and public exhibitions have been cancelled, the artists have seen vanishing opportunities to sell their artworks.
Therefore the initiative of ART: AN ESSENTIAL NEED, Emergency Grants: to show to the artists’ communities that we care about them and we got their backs so that they can continue producing art, the same art that has always been so essential in our lives!

We are looking for a deep involvement from all people, a collective call to action for Art:
To Artists – to speak out and re-think the role of Art against the alienating effects of Covid-19, presenting words and works to be collected in the eBook.
To Everyone – To contribute to the cause by buying the eBook, so that collected money can help the artists to continue creating art today.

A physical exhibit is planned once the world situation will allow it.
Date and place to be decided.

#ARTANESSENTIALNEED
#TOGETHERWEART