In a move that advances the intersection of art and philanthropy, Art Basel has unveiled Access, an initiative that connects galleries, artists, collectors, and non-profit organizations through a bespoke digital sales experience. Developed in collaboration with Arcual and poised to debut ahead of Art Basel Miami Beach 2023, Access is a platform designed to facilitate art sales and amplify charitable giving.
Collectors buying art on Access by Art Basel will automatically pledge additional contributions to charity. Beneficiaries include The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or one of three collective impact initiatives from The Miami Foundation: Arts Access Miami, the LGBTQ+ Equity Fund, or the Racial Equity Fund. This approach aims to harness the power of art sales to make a meaningful impact on charitable causes.
‘The art community is deeply engaged in the world around it’, says Noah Horowitz, CEO of Art Basel. ‘We wanted to deliver a platform that meaningfully and effectively supports the causes that matter to our galleries and their artists while allowing them to remain the beneficiaries of 100% of the sale on artworks.’
Over a dozen exhibitors, including Pace Gallery and François Ghebaly, will participate in the inaugural Access by Art Basel sale, open to the public from November 27 to December 10. Works by artists, including Hernan Bas at Fredric Snitzer Gallery, Katherine Bradford at kaufmann repetto, Wu Chi-Tsung at Sean Kelly, Rafael Delacruz at Mitchell-Innes & Nash, and Jenny Holzer at Sprüth Magers, among others, will be part of the sale. Visitors to Art Basel Miami Beach will be able to view the works included in-person at the fair from December 6. The integration of QR codes at participating gallery booths allows attendees at Art Basel Miami Beach to engage with and explore the exclusive sale seamlessly.
What sets Access apart is its commitment to charitable giving, ingrained in the art sales process. Collectors can peruse the curated selection, place and track requests – and, crucially, select their preferred charity and specify the donation amount through their personalized profiles. The donation, starting at a minimum of 10% of the artwork’s price, is made in addition to the selling price, ensuring a direct and impactful contribution.
The platform, powered by Arcual, provides a secure and user-friendly experience for collectors and galleries. The final payment is processed directly on Access, with funds automatically distributed to the gallery and the chosen charity upon payment. At the intersection of art and altruism, Access by Art Basel not only redefines the dynamics of art transactions but also charts a course where each purchase has transformative potential.
Access by Art Basel is powered by Arcual, a technology company building the next generation of digital infrastructure for the art world. Founded by MCH Group, LUMA Foundation, and BCG X in 2022, Arcual offers a suite of digital tools designed to meet the needs and priorities of the art community, including smart contract solutions which are fostering new standards for the art ecosystem, improving trust and security in transactions and exchanges.