20 Art Worlds Plus One

A Reminder Before Venice: More than rightfully, many are demanding that “the art world” needs to reconsider its practices, its ties to big money, its closeness to discrimination, its alliance with capitalism, its friendly relations to oligarchs etc. I fully agree, but we should not forget that there have been many "art worlds” all along, not all of them equally recognized:

1. the art worlds of not-for-profit organizations, trying hard not to sell out.

2. the art worlds of grants and gifts, supporting production and mediation.

3. the art worlds of community-based centers, serving their constituencies.

4. the art worlds of volunteer-operated programs, tightening the social fabric.

5. the art worlds of teaching, inspiring people everywhere.

6. the art worlds of research, in academia or outside of it, digging deep into its topics.

7. the art worlds of the undervalued or the unrecognized, barely making it.

8. the art worlds of the uninvited, wanting to get in.

9. the art worlds of the uninvited, not wanting to get in.

10. the art worlds of hosting and showing without expecting a return.

11. the art worlds of magazines, fanzines, blogs and books, circulating the globe.

12. the art worlds of progressive cultural policies, strengthening empowering practices.

13. the art worlds of thinking and debate, open to be challenged.

14. the art worlds of the shy and reclusive, not able to join the fun.

15. the art worlds of inclusion, not bothered by previews, dinners, gates, and security.

16. the art worlds of care and maintenance, protecting estates of the unknown.

17. the art worlds of networks, supporting each other.

18. the art worlds of emergency relief, assisting those at risk.

19. the art worlds of amateurs, always around when and where needed.

20. the art worlds of the many, joining others in their struggles.

Plus the art world(s) that you add to this list!