Crisis Fund

293

An exhibition budget transformed into a solidarity fund

Photo: Tomáš Lumpe for Hraničář Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

Photo: Tomáš Lumpe for Hraničář Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

Photo: Tomáš Lumpe for Hraničář Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

Photo: Tomáš Lumpe for Hraničář Gallery, Ústí nad Labem

Initiator(s)

Jonáš Svoboda, Andreas Gajdošík

Description

The Crisis Fund was established to cover losses incurred by artists in the course of their artistic practice (unexpected expenses, insufficient exhibition budgets, etc.) during the period of rampant inflation and budget cuts by the Czech government in 2023 and beyond.
The initial contribution consisted of the remaining budget for the making and exhibiting of an artwork by Jonáš Svoboda and Andreas Gajdošík for the “Good Job” exhibition at the Hraničář Gallery. The artwork was intentionally created from cardboard at minimal cost so that the majority of the budget would go directly to the Crisis Fund and, through it, to other artists in need. Exhibition visitors could contribute to the Crisis Fund using QR codes, and many of them generously supported the Fund.
After the “Good Job” exhibition ended, the funds were divided equally and sent to applicants without any verification or assessment of eligibility. Additional funds that could not be delivered, as well as new contributions, were donated in 2026 to cover unexpected energy bills for the Vila Vilekula cultural centre in the Ostrava Region. The entire history of contributions and payments made by the Crisis Fund could be tracked on the project’s transparent account, which currently serves as an archive of completed transactions.
The artwork included application forms that lightly parodied government forms for social support. They contained a series of questions, such as how much money you lost and on what project, whose fault it was, how it made you feel, and so on. Unlike official government forms, however, the only required information was your name and account number. Thanks to the forms, viewers could learn about the problems faced by ordinary artists, and it was precisely by acknowledging failure and sharing it with the world that the work shattered one of the art world’s great taboos: admitting that not everything is perfect, and talking about it.

Goals

To redirect the exhibition budget.

Beneficial outcomes

The emergency fund distributed approximately 1,000 euros to six artists and two organisations.

Location

Czech Republic, Europe

Users

artists, cultural workers, cultural organisations

Maintained by

Jonáš Svoboda, Andreas Gajdošík

Duration

2024 - 2026

Category

Scientific
Pedagogical
Politics
Urban Development
Economy
Environment
Social

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