Charlotte artists get more opportunities to shine, thanks to new $1 million grant
A community-funded art collection program is coming to Charlotte in 2028 through a $1-million investment from a prominent foundation.
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Last week, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced its contribution to Commissioner, a Miami-based nonprofit whose members pay a fee to receive original or limited-edition works from local artists.
“Commissioner will partner with creatives, cultural workers and community members to co-create opportunities that reflect Charlotte’s identity and support local artists,” said Kristina Newman-Scott, Knight Foundation vice president of arts, in a statement.
Collector members who join the program in Charlotte will receive artworks from local creatives.
In addition to Charlotte, the community commission model will debut in Detroit this fall and Philadelphia next year. Since its launch in 2018, Commissioner’s over 800 members have contributed more than $500,000 and funded 55 artist commissions.
“What began in Miami as an experiment in shared cultural investment has grown into a model for how communities can build deeper relationships with artists as both audiences and active supporters, stakeholders and memory-keepers in the creative life of their cities,” said Dejha Carrington, Commissioner co-founder and executive director.
Since 2005, the Knight Foundation has contributed over $495 million to the arts. The group, which is also based in Miami, identifies as a nonpartisan organization that promotes democracy and creative expression.
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Commissioner first received support from the foundation’s Knight Arts Challenge when the nonprofit was founded in 2017.
The annual collector and patron membership fees for Commissioner members range between $175 and $2,400. In Miami, 40 collector memberships are available each September to July for those who want to receive four surprise artworks. Commissioner has placed more than 2,000 of those Miami pieces with new and emerging collectors.
In the new cities, the nonprofit plans to grow its yearly membership program and develop new community-driven commissioning initiatives.
For more information on the program, go to the Commissioner website at commissioner.us/about-us. People can also sign up for the general newsletter on the landing page.
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