As a part of Teamwork Fine Art Society’s ongoing advocacy and a fundraising initiative for artists, #ArtMatters produced a fundraising gala by the artists, for the artists, called I Believe #ArtMatters, to help raise resources and provide the much-needed support for India’s artists and artisans. I believe #ArtMatters’, brought together over 450 artists from music, theatre, dance, film, stand-up and more, had been viewed by over 100,000 people and raised approximately INR 4.8 million on the 4th October broadcast.
On high demand from the audience, the star-studded celebration will be live-streamed again on 18th October 2020. The celebratory gala will again showcase the much-appreciated performances by all the artists, by highlighting their stories with an appeal to donate. Featuring 70 performances, the gala will run on Teamwork Arts’ Facebook Page starting from 5.30 pm.
The gala is in partnership with Give India and Supported by Infosys Foundation. Johnnie Walker is the celebration partner. The initiative is also supported by leading industry bodies and organizations like UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry), ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations), British Council, Earth Day Network, EEMA(Event and Entertainment Management Association), BookMyShow, MAMI (Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image), Serendipity Arts Foundation, Edelman India, and Longform.
Making an appeal to donate towards the initiative, acclaimed Indian actress Sharmila Tagore said, “We are all surrounded by art and I Believe #ArtMatters, even more so in these difficult times. Please join me and donate now to help artists and artisans across the country.”
In another appeal by famous Indian dancer Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh said, “Donate to #ArtMatters now, to preserve rich legacies of our artistic art traditions.”
While hosting at the gala, celebrated Indian actress Shabana Azmi said, “I think artists are central, not peripheral to our lives and must support the artists and artisans in their time of need.”
An initiative by the Teamwork Fine Arts Society- a not-for-profit organisation that is committed to the cause of promoting and preserving art, literature and craft- #ArtMatters is a platform that is working towards creating awareness about the current reality of various artists across India and developing support channels for them. Since its inception in April, over 100 artists have participated in the #ArtMatters campaign through video appeals and testimonials. It has also partnered with UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) and ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations). #ArtMatters has partnered with organisations across the country such as Rajasthan Josh SidharVikasSansthan, which is raising resources for families of folk musicians in a village in Jaisalmer, the Brahmaputra Cultural Foundation, which is helping artists and their families in Assam, and the Vimor Handloom Foundation, which is working with weavers across the country. The Mumbai- based NGO Vision Rescue’s Artists for Artists is an initiative that is run by artists, for artists across the city, Artists for Artists is currently working with over 1800 artists in Mumbai.
#ArtMatters has also joined hands with various industry leaders including Raw Mango and Aditi Mangaldas for a series of short films by Aditi Mangaldas titled, ‘Within…from Within’, as well as Ojas Arts, for an innovative virtual exhibition of over 100 indigenous works of art.
