During the holidays, so much of the focus is on high-end gifts and flashy purchases. But with so many arts organizations and nonprofits doing such good work, we here at artnet News thought it was high time we shined the spotlight on some of these groups.
If you’re looking to make some tax-deductible donations before the end of the year, any of these would be a great place to start.
A CITYarts field trip to see Roy Lichtenstein’s Greene Street Mural at Gagosian Gallery.
Photo: courtesy CITYarts.
1. CITYarts
Since 1968, CITYarts has looked to engage young people with creative pursuits, giving them the chance to team up with professional artists to create murals, mosaics, and other public art projects around the world—in 65 countries on six continents, to be exact.
Donate here.
Juan Rivera, Untitled (Keith Haring) 1985 Image: courtesy Visual AIDS.
2. Visual AIDS
Art becomes a weapon in the fight against AIDS for Visual AIDS, which looks to support HIV+ artists and preserve their legacies. The annual Postcards From the Edge fundraiser gives the public the chance to pick up small works by famous artist such as Ed Ruscha, Marilyn Minter, and Catherine Opie for just $85—although the artworks are displayed anonymously.
Each year, the organization also marks “Day With(out) Art,” celebrated this December 1 with RADIANT PRESENCE, a video commemorating artists who died of AIDS, including David Wojnarowicz, Keith Haring, and Felix Gonzalez-Torres.
Donate here.
A Veteran Artist Program at the Senate Russell Building in Washington, DC.
Photo: courtesy Americans for the Arts.
3. Veteran Artist Program
The Veteran Artist Program puts on a wide variety of programming, with everything from murals and art exhibitions to theater productions, documentary film, and musical events catering to those who have served in the armed forces. Veteran artists are invited to share their work on #VeteranArtistWednesday, with one artist featured weekly on the organization’s Facebook page.
Donate here.
Dustin Yellin at Pioneer Works with 75 kids for the New York Department of Homeless Services.
Photo: Presley Ann Slack, courtesy Patrick McMullan.
4. Free Arts NYC
Here, New York city’s underserved children and families have a chance to experience the arts through mentoring programs. Activities include field trips to Pioneer Works in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and the Brant Foundation in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Donate here.
Mel Chin, Safehouse.
Photo: courtesy a Blade of Grass.
5. A Blade of Grass
Dedicated to promoting socially engaged art, A Blade of Grass provides resources for artists working with struggling communities in effort to contribute to positive social change. The organization’s documentary series, FIELDWORKS, hones in on projects like “Operation Paydirt,” Mel Chin‘s nationwide initiative to end childhood lead poisoning.
Donate here.
Eyebeam.
Photo: courtesy Eyebeam.
6. Eyebeam
The lively center, which supports artists working with new technologies, just moved to a new facility in Brooklyn that supports double the number of residents.
Donate here.
Teresa Diehl, “Breathing Waters” at the Seaport District.
Photo: courtesy No Longer Empty/the Seaport District NYC.
7. No Longer Empty
Dedicated to bringing art to unexpected places and communities, No Longer Empty hosts contemporary art exhibitions in underutilized spaces in New York City. Highlights for 2015 included Teresa Diehl’s haunting “Breathing Waters” in the Seaport Culture District and “When You Cut Into the Present the Future Leaks Out,” a massive exhibition at the long-abandoned Bronx Borough Courthouse.
Donate here.
Hank Willis Thomas, The Truth Booth, presented by the Public Art Fund for “The Truth Is I See You.”
Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy the Public Art Fund.
8. Public Art Fund
With exhibitions all over New York city, Public Art Fund brings free public art to people of all ages and backgrounds. In 2015 alone, their projects included Hank Willis Thomas at Brooklyn MetroTech, Tatiana Trouvé in Central Park, and a fascinating group show in City Hall Park.
Donate here.
#SAVEARTSPACE.
Photo: courtesy #SAVEARTSPACE.
9. #SAVEARTSPACE
#SAVEARTSPACE, which debuted at this year’s edition of Bushwick Open Studios, transforms advertising space into public art exhibitions created by members of the local community. Earlier this month, the organization took over three billboards and five bus shelters in Miami during Art Basel in Miami Beach.
Donate here.
Springboard for the Arts artists 1xRUn in Detroit.
Photo: Dough Coombe, courtesy Springboard for the Arts.
10. Springboard for the Arts
An artist-run group dedicated to building stronger artistic communities, Springboard for the Arts helps artists forge the skills and connections they need to make a living from their work. One of their economic development strategies, which Springboard has helped launch across the country, is the art “CSA,” in which members commit to buying artwork from participating artists each month.
Springboard released a new artist career toolkit this month called Work of Art, which is a video and workbook series that guides new artists through the obstacles they might face in establishing their careers, including pricing, social media, time management, and record keeping.
Donate here.