The art of giving back: Christie’s Fund for the Arts is building a more equitable and diverse art world

For more than 250 years, the power of art to enlighten and inspire has been the cornerstone of Christie’s mission. Across its endeavours, the company is guided by the belief that access to the arts is an important part of people’s personal and cultural lives. In 2021, Christie’s Fund for the Arts was established to extend access to the art world through early exposure, education and career mentorship and to support the development of emerging artists.

‘The Christie’s Fund was created with the goal of introducing more people to the arts and supporting historically under-represented and emerging artists, allowing art to enrich the lives of all,’ says Sophie Carter, Global Head of Legal and Risk and Co-head of the Global Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee at Christie’s.

Through direct financial investment as well the brand’s platform and network, mentorship and in-kind resources, the Christie’s Fund has proudly partnered with more than 30 organisations globally, each of which is doing critical work to build a more equitable and diverse art world. Over the past three years, Christie’s employees have donated more than 3,000 hours of their time to support these partnerships.

Extending access to the art world

Broadening access to the art world is one of the Christie’s Fund’s two key pillars, focussing on investing in early exposure, education, career development and mentorship. Art History Link-Up, which has been a partner since the inception of the Christie’s Fund, supports young people from diverse backgrounds to become inspired by art history, providing free art history courses to state school students across the United Kingdom. It has supported more than 500 students since its launch in 2016, and its alumni represent 10 percent of Cambridge University's 2023 Art History intake.

Christie’s has also funded paid internship opportunities at art institutions for under-represented talent including through the 10,000 Interns Foundation, and Change 100 which provides opportunities for university students and graduates with disabilities and long-term conditions in the UK, and Futures and Options in New York City. Also in the UK, Zero Gravity provides mentorship for young adults from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds to help them gain access to art-related courses at universities and careers otherwise unavailable to them.

Christie’s Milan hosts a yearly exhibition and charity auction of works created by Dynamo Arts Factory, a programme led by established contemporary artists that offers participants engaging, stimulating and inclusive experiences with art in support of Dynamo Camp, a recreational therapy charity for children with serious or chronic diseases. In Asia, Christie’s has supported five annual arts-related scholarships for socioeconomically disadvantaged students via Hong Kong University’s Heart For Art Scholarship. Across two years, almost 300 people have applied to the program, which enables undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts to learn outside the classroom and explore experiential learning opportunities in the art world. These initiatives are just a few examples of the many partnerships the Christie’s Fund has forged with arts organisations throughout the globe.

Supporting the careers of emerging artists

‘The Fund’s second pillar,’ Carter describes, ‘is to use our brand, platform, network and resources to create a diverse and inclusive art ecosystem by enabling and promoting emerging artists, accelerating their careers and helping the world learn about their work.’

For example, in the Americas, Christie’s has supported Silver Arts Project — a non-profit that provides free studio spaces at 4 World Trade Center in New York — over the past two years. The Christie’s Fund has also assisted with operational costs for Project for Empty Space, allowing them to expand their artist residencies in New York and New Jersey and open an exhibition space. For two years Christie’s has funded the fellowship program of the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art (the only LGBTQIA+art museum in the world) and used its network to help the Museum expand its corporate relationships and opportunities. This year, Christie’s Education will be leading seminars on the art market for their fellows. A recent partnership is with Creatives Care, a community of artists, providers, and supporters securing the future of the arts by providing free services to help artists access affordable, high-quality mental healthcare.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Christie’s has partnered with Grant for Female Young Artists, an initiative launched by the Beijing Contemporary Art Foundation, which aims to support four emerging female talents. In Indonesia, Christie’s is working with the Indonesian Autism Foundation in awarding grants to three young inspiring Indonesian artists. The Indonesian Autism Foundation is an NGO working to support and promote the welfare of the autism community in Indonesia.

Partnerships in the Europe include Christie’s sponsorship of the 2023 K21 Global Art Award, celebrating the vision and courage of mid-career and emerging artists (last year’s prize went to Senzeni Mthwalezi Marasela from South Africa and this year’s prize to Wang Tuo from China). In the UK, the Christie’s Fund now sponsors the new Christie’s Award at the Royal Drawing School, London, supporting a graduating artist for a year of creative development and production, culminating in a solo exhibition at the School. Christie’s has also held exhibitions in many regions for emerging artists, such as Senam Okudzeto in Geneva.

Driving positive change

In three years, the Christie’s Fund has touched the lives directly and indirectly of more than 600 students and artists around the world through our meaningful partnerships spanning the Americas, the UK, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Through these partnerships The Fund has supported new talent with placements at Christie’s and other art institutions, co-hosted events, mentored individuals and helped under-represented artists gain greater exposure. These steps resonate with Christie’s larger ED&I efforts to drive positive change in the art world. ‘We are extremely proud of the impact we have made through the Christie’s Fund and look forward to continuing to build on this work,’ says Carter.

Learn more about Christie’s Fund for the Arts programs and partnerships.