Based in London's Islington borough, Candid Arts Trust is a self-funded charity focusing on arts and arts education promotion. The emphasis is on recently graduated creators so that they can have a place to showcase their work as well as identify clients if they want to sell their pieces. The initiative is akin to a community and it dips itself into a wide variety of projects including a cafe, events, art classes, spaces for hire and fairs like the Angel Christmas Fair and the Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair.
The building itself is a marvel. On its website, Candid Arts Trust gives a sense of what the physical site is like: "The centre is located in two Victorian warehouses totalling 23,000 square feet and offers 6,500 square feet of loft style exhibition space, 20 artists studios, film screening rooms, rehearsal spaces, a banquet room that can be hired for private functions as well as a café with outside courtyard."
One of the most interesting activities is the membership interface on the Candid Arts Trust website. It's kind of like Facebook for artists where creators of all kinds (designers, filmmakers, etc.) can create profiles, update their statuses and interact with like-minded individuals.
At a time when government spending in many parts of the world, not just the U.K., is low, self-funded initiatives like Candid Arts Trust help to cushion the blow and provide support to emerging artists and designers.
Contact Information
Candid Arts Trust website
Candid Arts Trust on Facebook
Candid Arts Trust on Twitter
Self-Funded Artist Charities
Candid Arts Trust Supports Creators in London's Borough of Islington
Trend Themes
1. Self-funded Arts Charities - The rise of self-funded initiatives providing support to emerging artists can be capitalized upon to create new platforms for artists in different regions of the world.
2. Online Artist Communities - Developing online profiles and platforms where artists from all over the world can showcase their work and interact with like-minded individuals is a possibility to disrupt the traditional art world.
3. Creative Communities - Establishing creative communities with a wide variety of projects including cafes, events, art classes, and spaces for hire is an opportunity to foster economic growth in the local areas.
Industry Implications
1. Art - The art industry can take inspiration from self-funded artist charities to create similar initiatives to bolster the industry and provide support to young artists and upcoming designers.
2. Non-profit - The non-profit sector can look into creating self-funded charities, similar to Candid Arts Trust, to promote arts and arts education in their respective regions.
3. Hospitality - Creating cafes and spaces for hire as part of creative communities is an opportunity for the hospitality industry to revitalize local economies and attract tourists with unique experiences.