To access art, most people must make a trip to a gallery or museum. With many artists in the United States never having the opportunity to exhibit, Wendy Hickey was inspired to use one problem to solve the other. In 2014, she started the ArtPop Street Gallery – an initiative that displays creatives’ work on billboards, buildings, and in other public spaces. “It’s just so crucial as you’re walking around in your community and your city to see art,” she says.
Harnessing her corporate background and business knowledge, Hickey is amplifying artists’ work. “A lot of artists don’t know how to market themselves,” she says. It’s common for creatives to work several jobs to support themselves. But Hickey’s NPO provides education to help artists develop sustainable livelihoods. To date, over 400 artists across 15 cities in the US have showcased their work through ArtPop and reaped the rewards. Each year, several applicants are accepted into a year-long programme, with their art turning highways and side streets into vibrant galleries. By the end of their experience, the exposure they have received enables them to sell more of their work and at a fairer price.
ArtPop has built relationships with hundreds of artists, ensuring they always have a canvas and audience while neighbourhoods have access to artistic spaces. “I think our world is healed because of art,” Hickey says. “It brings culture and inspiration, and ties the community to the creators in the community.”
You can donate to the efforts of ArtPop Street Gallery here.
Footage by ArtPop Street Gallery was used in the creation of this film.
