Carnegie Reveals Inaugural Carnegie Community Supported Art Initiative

A box of locally-created, freshly designed art, coming up! The Carnegie is pleased to announce the inaugural season of Carnegie Community Supported Art (Carnegie CSA), a program inspired by Community Supported Agriculture initiatives, which will allow arts enthusiasts to buy "farm boxes" filled with works of art created by local artists.

What is Community Supported Art? For years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has been a popular way for consumers to buy food directly from local farms. With the same buy-local spirit in mind, The Carnegie is excited to bring an arts-focused CSA to Northern Kentucky to support local art, artists and collectors of all levels.

"This program is such an excellent way to start an art collection, grow an art collection, support local artists and support The Carnegie," says Matt Distel, Carnegie Exhibitions Director. "The assembled work and future versions of the CSA will be a highly focused, curated collection of great artists working in and around Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati."

The Carnegie CSA, modeled on Community Supported Art in Minnesota, created by mnartists.org and Springboard for the Arts, will feature the work of nine local artists/artist teams who have been paid to create 50 "shares" for the program.

Local artists whose work will be featured in the "farm boxes" include Antonio Adams, Keith Benjamin, Carmel Buckley, Barbara Houghton, Casey Riordan Millard, Marcia Shortt, Michael Stillion/Katie Labmeier, Chris Vorhees, and Joseph Winterhalter.

Individuals interested in supporting the Carnegie CSA will purchase a "share" for $350 and in return will receive a "farm box" consisting of nine pieces of locally produced artwork. Featured works could include items such as mixed media prints, a run of photographs, or small original ceramics. The actual works created will vary and will be kept secret until July when participants will pick up their "shares" during the Carnegie CSA harvest party.

Carnegie Executive Director, Katie Brass is excited about the CSA and the role it will play in introducing the community to local artists," We are really striving to increase exposure for local artists and to encourage the community to "shop local" when it comes to buying art." Brass adds, "From student shows at local universities, to gallery openings, to now, buying a "share" in the Carnegie's CSA, supporting local artists helps keep your money local and it supports the talented individuals who live in our community. "

Member shares for the Carnegie CSA will go on sale Thursday, May 1, 2014 and will be available for purchase by contacting (859) 491-2030. Questions can be directed to mdistel@thecarnegie.com. All proceeds from the selling of "shares" will go towards sustaining the Carnegie CSA and paying participating artists.

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