Here's something rarely shouted to a crowd of lovable ADD rattled artists: "Hey, kids, let's talk about economics!" I know, pinch me, right? It's like yelling, "Hey, kids, let's listen to a reading of the collected poems of Sylvia Plath!" in the middle of a raging New Year's Eve party.
Well today, right here on CricketToes, we're gonna talk about economics, specifically micro-economics--Yippee and Happy Tuesday! To those about to click away in search of sickeningly cute animal videos, we salute you. Come on back later when you're good-n-tight, though, 'cause talkin' money is even more of a hoot when you're all liquored up.
As is known by all with an interest in the study of economics, the concept of micro-lending has been around from the moment that members of the Homo genus began to place value on stuff within a communal setting. For example, waaaay back in the day if you managed to squeeze through the pile of humanity tearing away at the latest kill only to find there was nothing left to calm your hunger, you'd turn to your buddy Zog and tell him, "If you give me some of your meat now, I'll give you some of mine later." Thusly a deal was struck, with Zog becoming a micro-lender and you becoming a micro-lendee. Eureka!
Least we arrogantly believe ourselves to be the sole smarties on this planet, other social mammals--primarily primates--have been documented as engaging in activities similar to this. The only thing that truly separates our lending practices from theirs is the concept of getting back more than the amount lent. We benignly call this "interest" but its potential for nefarious abuse is strong and the real implementation of that abuse is widespread.
Micro-funding, on the other hand, has historically been more difficult to come by. Sure, individuals and small groups have given funds to artists and causes of worth throughout the centuries, but they tended to be rich folks who attached a significant number of clauses, catches and here's-what-we'd-like-to-sees. This largely remains the case today, buoyed up by well-intentioned worker bees within the organizations and institutions meant to benefit the artists/causes.
With the help of The Mighty Internets™, its sundry websites, blogs and social media hangouts, and advances in telecommunications, the democratization of micro-funding has already begun in earnest, allowing regular peeps from every background to chip-in what they can for a project they believe in. And they're doin' it right in plain sight of those who still think of themselves as The Grand Puppet Masters. Whoot!
Miltown played host to one of these beacons of funding freedom on January 23 with The Soup Chronicles: Micro Funding For Artists, sponsored by African-American Artists Beginning To Educate Americans About African American Art (ABEA). The result of this gathering was a highly uncommon one: The artist whose proposed project garnered the most votes of those in attendance received 90% of the donations collected. Did ya hear that, people? 90%! With 10% reserved for the next round.
As Della Wells, artist and founder of ABEA, expressed to me last week during a phone chat, the goal of The Soup Chronicles is to keep artsy money giving as simple as possible. No frivolous administrative costs cutting into the funding, no long-drawn-out selection process, no 80 pound submission packet detailing every actual and/or padded accomplishment of your artistic life required. Just a 500 word project proposal to be presented to the masses. That's it, that's all, that's awesome!
During this initial round, two artists, Monika Harris and June Schumacher, presented their ideas to the assembled crowd enjoying soup and bread for a minimum donation of a mere $5 per mouth. Doesn't sound like much, does it? But added all together ya end up with a fairly nice kitty--in this case $173--to begin or further a project that otherwise may never see the light of day. Also, it lowers the winning artist's blood pressure--hehe, get it? Course ya do.
Monika Harris got the most votes for the first ever Soup Chronicles, enabling her to launch a zine designed to empower women of color. Harris was brought to grateful tears upon hearing that she had secured the thumbs-up from those in attendance, providing her with the encouragement she needs and giving her the determination to move forward on a worthy project. Della told me that June Schumacher was just as pleased, recognizing that her participation in the event brought attention to her project as well. Hurray!
So besides the monetary assistance to the artist getting the most votes and the promotional benefit for all involved, how does a this type of micro-funding serve the macro-good? Hey, I'm glad ya asked 'cause--surprise!--I've got a few thoughts on that. Ready? Here we go.
As a practical matter, the money received by the artist will find its way into the larger, hopefully local, economy through purchases of supplies and/or services needed for the project, helping to sustain businesses and jobs. It's inarguably a small amount, but money is money, people, and every little bit counts. The day we start turning our noses up at a nickel here and a dime there is the day we no longer understand how a sustainable, good-for-everyone economy works, and that means curtains for us.
On a more intangible yet equally important level, an intimate setting like The Soup Chronicles encourages direct interaction between artists and the general population, creating a sense of involvement and cooperation that quite frankly does not exist in the funding game of the establishment--ya know, the ones where judges hold up a sign reading, "You must be this tall in the art world to enter," and nobody else has a say in which projects will get the dough. It is this deliberate distancing by the artsy elite that has fostered the alienation and disinterest in art that we now live with and suffer from, and any endeavor that can break through that ickiness is a welcome one indeed.
Of course, not everyone had a no-holds-barred positive reaction to the inaugural Soup Chronicles. Lisa Townsel of ThirdCoast Digest took a decidedly meh tone about the event in her piece posted on January 25:
"In a perfect world, such a fundraising idea would be ingenious. Simply put, patrons bring along their own bowls and dish out a $5 entry fee. In exchange, they hear about the artists’ backgrounds, see their work, get two ladles of soup and a slice of bread (juice, too, for an additional donation) and before the event ends, they select one artist to win the day’s money pot...
That’s in a perfect world. But on Saturday, it was apparent that this project could use a bit of smoothing out. While each artist spoke enthusiastically and coherently about artistic dreams and ambitions neither actually presented works for the audience to see."
Okay, unattainable "perfect world" aside, whaddya really think?
I asked Della about this criticism that the artists didn't provide visuals in their presentations. Her response was elegant and down-to-earth, pointing to the reality that not every artist has the money to create a mock-up or get their hands on a fancy laptop to blow the collective mind of the audience--and, btw, Schumacher did bring something to show, but she unfortunately experienced technical difficulties. Also, neither Della nor anyone else involved at the organizational level wants to interfere with the artistic vision of those applying. As she wisely stated, "Some people can talk their way into anything," and no amount of eye candy can replace good old-fashioned salesman- or womanship.
Anyhoo, there are obviously other benefits that come from micro-funding of this kind, but lemme end it here for the sake of all our eyeballs. I'd like to know your thoughts on the matter though, kids, so leave a comment, a question or a stream of consciousness tome for all to see.
For those who'd like to apply for the next round of The Soup Chronicles coming up in June, send your project proposal of 500 words or less to Della Wells via email wellsdella at yahoo dot com, or mail it to:
ABEA
631 East Hadley # 2
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
Applicants should be 18 years or older and a resident of this here state, a.k.a. Wisconsin. If ya don't win, you're free to apply again. Those who walk away with the most votes can reapply after one year.
(Thanks, Della!)
Related:
The Soup Chronicles: Cast Your Vote For The Tastiest Project
Breaking: Soup Can Nourish Art
