Planting the Seed: Cultivating Cultural Networks Through Community Supported Art

Monday, October 19, 3:45pm – 4:45pm

Organized by Rebecca Chan, Program Officer, Robert W. Deutsch Foundation.

Presented by Rebecca Chan, Program Officer, Robert W. Deutsch Foundation; and Allison Gulick, Grants and Administrative Coordinator, Office of Community Engagement at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Community Supported Art (CSA) programs are an emerging trend, appearing in a handful of cities across the US. Like their agricultural namesakes, CSAs connect a cohort of local artists with a group of shareholders through an interactive series of presentations and selection events. Simple yet sophisticated, they cultivate a local culture of art buying and supporting individual artists by establishing relationships between artists, patrons, and community. The session will provide an overview of CSAs across the country, and the impact of one program in Baltimore; a breakdown of program planning/logistics, and how programs can complement placemaking activities; a discussion of successes/challenges of the program to date; and ways to tailor the program to individual communities.