How is our Autumn Banquet a social/economic experiment?
Most artists never go to fundraisers because we can’t afford to, but we always contribute to them. For free. I always imagined those fundraisers to be fun and exciting—until I went to one. An annual gala for a major art not-for-profit in New York. I was invited because they used my video as a backdrop for the dinner. I was beyond excited. But what I saw there was misery. It was in a huge convention-like hall on the west edge of Chelsea. Artworks in display were thrown together with no attention at all. The entire evening was orchestrated by a slick event production company, and felt like a Vegas show. All the artists were shoved into the corner table, and had nothing but complaints. Even the main honoree, Christian Marclay, declared in his speech that he was there only as a bait for the wealthy donors.
Where is the art in that?
Since then I’ve wondered, why give all that money to the venues and professional promoters? Why not give the money to artists and let them design the event? Even if that decreases the amount raised for the organization by increasing cost, you would be supporting the artists by paying them and giving them jobs that would give them creative freedom.
Not only would this inject cash into the local community, but it would maximize the intangible capital by elevating the shared experience. If the guests take away a memory of rich shared experience, its effect could be much longer-lasting and far reaching than what money could bring alone.
This is why we are involving many artists and none are asked to donate their work. They will exhibit their original pieces for sale at the event, with all of the proceeds going to the artists, not Catskill Waters. It is our attempt to use this opportunity and share the benefits among all those involved.
There is also a program to receive complementary tickets for helping us.
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