Supporting the Arts Like a Normal Person

What does "supporting the arts" mean when you're not Leon Black or David Geffen? As much as I adore the MoMA, The Met, and my personal favorite, The Met Cloisters, supporting arts in our communities can be an effective and soul-nourishing way to sustain creativity and culture on a more local scale.

Local museums are a natural starting place. Many are run in partnership with universities and are goldmines of information on local art history, artists, and folklore. Be sure to visit travelling special exhibits when they are in town - many require advance tickets due to limited capacity, so be on the watch and plan ahead.

From there, I like to pivot to local arts, which vary wildly from area to area. In my area, the history of pottery runs deep. Getting to know the local potters, their studios, and where they retail have been wonderful gifts.

I would challenge you to seek to decorate your home and office spaces with authentic art and museum-quality prints (when necessary) where you can name the art, artist, and location. We're oversaturated with images but sorely lacking in deep storytelling and appreciation. The occasional family photo doesn't go awry, either, but you can say so much more about your family and your values through art than a portrait will often allow.

When you're ready to branch out, collecting pieces while travelling is a great way to add flavor to your curated personal gallery. It can be a hassle (particularly when it comes to safety of the piece), but having a meaningful piece from a trip can bring back all those memories (and hopefully, conversations with the artist about their inspirations and methods). Who knows, you may someday acquire an original by the next Kahlo.

With love,

E