Season Two Launches
LOCAL ART MEMBERSHIP COMMUNITY COMMISSIONER OPENS ITS SECOND SEASON TO NEW MEMBERS ON SEPTEMBER 3.
Commissioner, a membership program that helps everyday people collect work by thriving Miami artists, officially launches Season Two on September 3, 2019. Locals interested in starting or growing their art collections can now join the program at commissioner.us. As many as 50 Collector members collaboratively commission original artwork by four multidisciplinary contemporary Miami-based artists, and gain access to monthly programming that explores many approaches to collecting, the artistic process, and sustainable systems for supporting the arts.
Season Two kicks off with Commissioner’s first artwork reveal event on Wednesday, September 25, 7 - 9 pm at Primary (7410 NW Miami Court, Little River). This event is free and open to the public, with generous support from Tito’s Handmade Vodka. On-site registration will be available if memberships remain. RSVP essential at cmxnr.eventbrite.com.
“Commissioner goes well beyond the acquisition of art. We’re interested in giving new audiences—those that feel like the art world can be a closed system—the tools, information and accessible modelling they need to become long-term patrons within their means and at their own pace,” said Dejha Carrington, co-founder of Commissioner. “Most people haven’t grown up with a philanthropist or collector in their family or as a mentor, so when we learn that the global art market reached $67.4 billion in 2018, we need to ask ourselves who that number includes and who it doesn’t.”
In Season One, Commissioner spent $40,000 in commissioning artwork from contemporary artists Typoe, Adler Guerrier, Kelly Breeze, and Jamilah Sabur. Sabur’s limited-edition artwork arrived just in advance of her participation at the celebrated group show at Pérez Art Miami Museum’s exhibition, “The Other Side of Now.” Capped at 40 Collector and 40 Patron spots in Season One, this year’s offering is expanding to welcome up to 50 Collector members, and even more Patrons whose $75-$100 membership benefits focus on event access and learning. An Alumni level has been added to foster community and strengthen support among founding Collectors from Season One.
In addition to putting more than 160 works into the hands of locals, Commissioner has presented 13 events, produced artist-forward videos with local filmmakers, and nurtured 24 collaborations that spotlight the creatives, spaces and stories of Miami. More art sales and commissions are taking place outside of Commissioner as a direct result of the program, illustrating its positive ripple effect on the local arts community.
"Commissioner is cultivating Miami's art community by showing regular people how they can get in the game, instead of watching from the sidelines. Most importantly, it has shown me that your love for art is more important than your bank account when it comes to beginning your collection,” said Richard Guzman, a Collector from Season One who first learned about the program from a news article.
Through Commissioner, arts enthusiasts seeking to build their collection and learn more about collecting art and the artists in their community are invited to join at commissioner.us on September 3 until spots last. Memberships are available on a first come, first serve basis.
About Commissioner
Conceived in 2017, Commissioner aims to create a more connected and invested Miami with art at its core. Using a membership revenue model to fund the commission of new work by local artists with storytelling and programming, there are three ways to join Commissioner: as a Collector, Patron or Alumni. For $1,500/year or $500/quarter, Collectors receive original limited edition works in addition to benefits offered to Patrons. For $75-100/year, Patrons and Alumni access compelling programming, such as artist studio and collector home visits and special events aimed to educate, connect and inspire.
Commissioner is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation's Knight Arts Challenge, which funds the best ideas for bringing South Florida together through the arts. Commissioner is also supported by a Locust Projects WaveMaker research and development grant. Fiscal sponsors are The Miami Foundation and Diaspora Vibe Gallery.
For more information and to sign-up for the newsletter, visit commissioner.us. On Instagram: @cmxnr.