Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Paying it Forward in the Art World 🫶
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items As an art advisor, people ask me how they can get more involved in the art world. They want to support artists and arts organizations. Art is for everyone! So I've compiled some ideas for how you can become more active in the art world.
Sections
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Organizations to Join or Donate To
Ways to Help Artists Directly
Volunteer Opportunities
Organizations to Join or Donate To
Bringing awareness to arts organizations happens by sharing your time, talent, and wallet.
The Art for Justice Fund supports efforts to reduce mass incarceration by funding art that sparks change
Art for Justice Fund
YoungArts – support young artists in various disciplines, from visual arts to literature, through grants and awards.
YoungArts | Competition, Awards + More for Artists Ages 15-18
Artists' Fellowship Inc. – A nonprofit offering emergency financial aid to professional fine artists
Artists' Fellowship, Inc.
The Trevor Project’s Arts Initiatives – Help LGBTQ+ youth express themselves through art by supporting Trevor Project’s outreach and arts programming.
The Trevor Project
Artadia – Contribute to their grant programs, which support visual artists in major cities across the U.S. with unrestricted funding.
Artadia
National Museum of Women in the Arts – Support women artists by donating to exhibitions and programs that highlight their contributions to the art world.
National Museum of Women in the Arts | Home
Creative Capital – Your donation helps innovative projects across art forms, providing artists with funding, professional development, and career support.
Creative Capital
The Studio Museum in Harlem – This iconic institution is focused on promoting the work of artists of African descent through exhibits, programs, and more.
Studio Museum in Harlem
Free Arts NYC – Volunteer or donate to this organization’s arts mentoring programs for underserved youth, providing access to creative arts education.
FREE ARTS NYC
The Arts Endowment - National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) – Help ensure broad access to the arts.
National Endowment for the Arts
Ways to Help Artists Directly
From mentoring to purchasing to attending - oftentimes just being there is the best support you can give.
Mentor a Young Artist – Offer guidance to emerging artists through programs like CreativeMornings, the global creative community network.
CreativeMornings
Ko-fi – Uplift your favorite artists, allowing them to continue creating independently through small, recurring donations.
Ko-fi
Patreon – Check out artists doing innovative things in all art genres and contribute to their journey directly.
Patreon
Hit Record - This creative hub was started by Joe Gordon-Levitt and continues to be a way for the community to contribute to artistic creations. Add a line here, add a note there, and drop your own work into other artists'.
HITRECORD
Fivrr - Invest in unique works by commissioning local or up-and-coming artists, supporting their career while getting personalized art.
Fiverr | Find the best global talent
Crowdfunding for Art Projects – where emerging creatives launch initiatives that need community backing.
Kickstarter
Another great crowdfunding database. Seriously- throw down a few bucks and help an artist out.
GoFundMe | The #1 Crowdfunding and Fundraising Platform
Sponsor an Artist Residency – Contribute to programs like the Vermont Studio Center, where your donation funds residencies for talented artists.
Vermont Studio Center
Participate in Virtual Art Markets – Many artists sell their work through Instagram, Etsy, or Artsy; purchasing through these platforms goes directly to the artists.
Artsy — Discover, Buy, and Sell Fine Art
Donate Art Supplies – Many nonprofits and schools accept art supply donations to support workshops and classes for youth or underfunded programs.
DonorsChoose: Support a classroom. Build a future.
They feature a section for student exhibitions where you can browse and purchase artwork created by students.
Saatchi Art
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering in the arts enriches communities and cultivates connections.
ASAP - Attend (virtually or in person) these amazing “graduation” shows for storytellers, comedians, and performers who are veterans taking advantage of a creative outlet.
Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP) | Thriving through the Arts
The Creative Coalition – Support arts advocacy in Washington, D.C., by joining this nonprofit's volunteer efforts or lobbying for arts education.
The Creative Coalition
Art Therapy Programs – Volunteer with organizations like the American Art Therapy Association, helping people heal through creative expression.
American Art Therapy Association
Youth Arts Mentorship Programs – Programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters often need art-inclined mentors to support youth engagement through creative activities.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America - Youth Mentoring
Arts for the Aging (AFTA) – Volunteer to lead art workshops for older adults, using art to foster community, wellness, and creativity.
Arts for the Aging
CreateNow – A mentorship organization in Los Angeles that matches mentors with at-risk youth interested in visual or performing arts.
Create Now
Art Start – Volunteer with this nonprofit to help homeless and underserved youth create art as a means of self-expression and confidence-building.
Art Start
International Volunteer HQ’s Arts Projects – Volunteer abroad in arts-based projects supporting youth and local communities around the world.
International Volunteer HQ - IVHQ
Mural Arts Philadelphia – Join their community arts initiatives or help with mural installations; it’s a hands-on way to bring art to public spaces.
Mural Arts Philadelphia