Art Matters Begins | 1985-1988
Art Matters began as the brainchild of philanthropist Laura Donnelley, who wanted to assist artists struggling to say something with bite and punch, artists who made “art that mattered.” Incorporated in 1985 as a non-profit private foundation, Art Matters’ mission was to support experimentation in art, both in media and ideas. Donnelley assembled a board of professionals in the field with breadth and diversity of knowledge, and provided the operating and grant money for the first six years.
Art Matters gave fellowships to individual artists and, to a lesser degree, funding for the organizations that sponsored and presented new work, most often the alternative and artist run spaces. The foundation tried to make it easy for artists to apply by eschewing lengthy applications, and made the turn-around time for receiving funds as short as possible. Art Matters chose to give small grants to many artists rather than larger ones to fewer. Need was simply assumed, and promise, rather than accomplishment, was the issue.