Inclusive Art Gallery Project

Trinidad is a formal colonial island in the Caribbean that suffers from issues of race discrimination, geographical discrimination, and colorism. The country is composed of two major racial groups, Africans and Indians, which comprise around 80% of the population but ruled economically by colonial European families who were former plantation owners. 


Unfortunately, within the visual arts world, there is significant discrimination against these artists who produce traditional art referred to as Indian and African arts. 


Despite the country's shift towards democracy and the fact that artists from African and Indian communities make up 80% of the population, discrimination against these traditional art forms persists in the art world. This can be traced back to the old colonial model of Eurocentricity, which has created a belief among the ruling elite that European painting and culture is superior to the traditional arts of African and Indian cultures. In this system, original art is also considered a status symbol of European culture, and only the ruling elite are given the opportunity to market their works at local galleries.


My online art gallery aims to break this trend by allowing artist a platform to sell their original art to a wider audience and also to place their art on objects to sell as print on demand products, thus giving them exposure and the ability to earn an income. 


I consider this business venture a project because, like any new venture, there is a degree of uncertainty, especially in the art market. However, I firmly believe that businesses should have a social imperative towards human ideals and that this non-corporate, communal approach can create positive change. By providing a platform for marginalized artists to showcase their work and sell their art, I hope to contribute to the betterment of society and promote diversity and inclusion in the world.


The product offering will be traditional paintings and drawings which are represented in the local galleries but also art artifacts that have been discriminate against such, as handmade furniture, basket weaving, handmade quilts and tapestries  


Benefits 

Establishing an online art gallery for Caribbean artists has several benefits: 

  1. Impacting the promoting the cultural heritage of the region to a global audience. 
  2. The online gallery aims to create equality in art and eliminate social discrimination and prejudice locally. 
  3. It will provide a platform for artists to become successful by exposing them to a larger audience and market, freeing them from the constraints of the local market.
  4. Additionally, the platform will allow for easier contact for business-to-business sales and spreading costs, so individual artists do not have to bear the large cost of going on these online platforms. 
  5. Ease the time consuming and gatekeeping  regulation in setting up on these online platforms as a single point of contact.
  6. Allowing a wider range of artists and artisans to come on board and sell their creations.

Because of the funding limitations marketing will be done through organic growth on the social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest and YouTube.