Introducing The Stand

Dear Friends,

It is with immense pride, and some nervous excitement, that I am writing to you about a new venture called The Stand.

As we were locked down through the last year, it swiftly became apparent that the pressure faced by those in the charity sector would be immense. Need increased significantly while fundraising channels reduced, and old funding models could not be relied on to close the gap. At KHULA Education we are lucky to have many supporters in the art world. They became convinced that the capital in the art market could do more to support both artists and organisations in need. 

This was the genesis of The Stand, a pioneering digital platform where selling art, supporting artists and funding social causes form a virtuous circle. It was founded by former Sotheby's chairman, Robin Woodhead, and Beth Greenacre, curator at The AllBright and former curator of the David Bowie Collection. Most significantly for us, 10% of its sale prices will directly benefit the communities of KwaZulu-Natal.

Through the online marketplace Invaluable, The Stand will produce themed, curated auctions of works by emerging and mid-career artists. From the sale proceeds collected, the artist / sellers receive 70% of the “hammer” or sale price, while 20% of the sale proceeds will go to partner charities divided as follows: half of the 20% will go to David Rattray Foundation for the benefit of Khula and half will go to one of our other partner charities that the artist/ seller chooses.  To cover its costs and reinvestment, 10% of the sale proceeds plus the 15% buyer’s premium added to the sale price will go back to The Stand.

Running next week from 19-21 May, The Stand’s inaugural auction ‘The Female Gaze’ celebrates artists who identify as female and specifically artists that explore the female form, a subject traditionally colonised by men. The artists taking part are; Shadi Al-Atalla, Zoe Buckman, Gill Button, Delphine Diallo, Nina Mae Fowler, Goldentailx, Rachel Goodyear, Margarita Gluzberg, Emma Hart, Anna Lieber Lewis, Lady Skollie, Frances Waite. Estimates will begin at £3,000. 

The Stand’s partner charities for the first auction will be Galleries Climate Coalition (GCC), Hoxton Gardenware and Women for Women, along with founding charity partner KHULA Education.

IN THE PRESS

I hope that reading about this new venture fills you with the same level of excitement and optimism that we have felt while building it. It was the infamous Dolly Parton who said, If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one. Commercial philanthropy as a concept is growing, and over the last year, we have worked with many bright minds to begin paving our small part in this road. We're now inviting you join us as we start to walk along.

Best,
Hannah 

Beth Greenacre, Curator and Director of The Stand 

"During 2020, many artists I knew at early stages of their careers struggled to make ends meet and the share of female artists in the primary market decreased. At the same time charities asked for further support from the arts sector. The Stand is our solution to these problems. It will be an online and transparent way to collect art, discover new talents and support the causes we all care about."