From 2000 to 2018, foreign-born professional artists in New York made an average income of about $41,000 annually, compared to the $46,600 annual income of US-born artists. - Center for an Urban Future (2020)
In Los Angeles, art workers of color earn 35% less than their white colleagues. - Artnet (2021)
From those 115 funding opportunities available to individual artists nationwide, only 33% explicitly state immigrant artists of various statuses can apply. - Define American (2023)
Artists of global backgrounds need a support system dedicated to them. Let us be your Spokes-People!
We want to change the culture of artist support.
Our
Values
STRUCTURAL CHANGE:
We strive to address specific barriers for immigrant and diaspora artists.
While a barrier for non-English native speakers in any field, language barriers become a bigger issue in the fine art industry due to the use of jargon (“artspeak”). Furthermore, the logistical steps for promote your art — from corresponding with prospective buyers and press to applying to grants and writing texts for exhibitions catalogs — can be extremely writing-intensive.
Language Barrier
Laguage localization
We attend to the importance of culturally-specific experiences in concepts in writing about art. You will be paired with regional and language specialists who consult you and conduct our own rigorous research to make sure your ideas are equitably represented.
Artists who experienced a major move from one location or another, or have traveled frequently, experience more difficulty locating resources in their current country and location. Even if one were fluent in the local language, gaps exist between artists without formal training and those who completed BFA and MFA programs.
Informational barrier
Because Spokes Art aims for the well-rounded growth of artists, the opportunities we curate for you not limited to employment, but prioritize cultivating community and learning. Examples include networking and socializing events, profession-based meet-ups, language or specialty skills classes, and reading/discussion groups.
Personalized Mentorship
Many immigrant and diasporic artists suffer from a feeling of alienation. This not only affects their personal life and therefore creative process - artmaking and showcasing art are fundamentally collective endeavors, and without a support system they have built trust with time, artists face difficulty in developing their practice in the long term.
Community barrier
Connections That Last
Not only will you be in regular contact with our advisors, they will also connect you to collaborators and communities in visual art, sound, performance, and literature. You can also seek your own collaborators through our proprietary online community portal, The Watering Hole.
OUR PEOPLE
Haena Chu
Founder | Asian Art Advisor
Born in Seoul, Korea; Lives and works in Brooklyn, NY
B.A., Art History and Cultural Anthropology
M.A., Museum Studies
“As a contemporary art writer and curator who also has experience in higher education, I have strongly felt the importance of accessible training in not only artmaking but actionable guidance on art as a career: on equity, compensation, and how to advocate for oneself as a minority artist.”
Locations
We are currently based in:
New York, NY
Los Angeles, CA
Chicago, IL
And looking to expand to other locations!
CONNECT WITH US