Generosity Foundation: Free Money For Artists

The Generosity Foundation, (or The Federation of Students and Nominally or Unemployed Artists) is part performance art and part micro-lending grant program. The group of 10, each gathered $100 then pooled the money to be given away as grants to jump start art projects. This past June, they set up a booth in a New York park and gave away cash and official looking grant certificates to random aspiring artists that passed by. The Foundation will be doing more free-form giving this week in New York, as part of the Conflux Festival.

The Generosity Foundation explains how it works:

The FSNUA aims to re-inspire creative thinking and action in everyday people by removing a small barrier and providing encouragement. We give small, unsecured grants in the form of $10-$60 for creative projects thought up on the spot by everyday people. In the past this has included a merchant marine, two 10 year old girls, a US soldier on leave from Iraq, an accordion player from Alaska, and around 40 others. We funded their new paintings, drawings, knitting, and photojournalism projects, and the repair of one accordion. Projects that may not have happened had they not come across 10 people in the park to support and inspire the thought.

Beyond the small amount of money, the project encourages people to see themselves as something other than workers or consumers even if it just for the length of time required to apply for the FSNUA grant. We also hope to re-inspire dormant desires to create while presenting an example of generosity without an ulterior motive.

It’s fair to say the result is beautiful, motivating, friendly and a bit chaotic (in an exciting way).

[via Guerilla Innovation]