Investing in the Artists Who Sustain Our Culture

Contemporary artists have long been underserved, undervalued, and underfunded. More than half of artists report worrying about at least one basic financial need; food, housing, medical care, or utilities, in a given month, and nearly a third are concerned about covering medical costs. Talented, working artists are leaving the field or never gaining the footing to sustain a career, not for lack of ability, but for lack of investment.

The Opportunity

The Greene Fellowship was founded in 2022, in memory of Brad Greene, to change that equation for contemporary visual artists in Colorado and Western North Carolina. Each year, we select a small number of emerging artists and invest in them directly: a $50,000 unrestricted stipend, disbursed quarterly, that they can use however best serves their practice and their life. Alongside that support, fellows receive a full year of business mentorship focused on the sustainability of their careers, skills that arts training rarely covers, and that determine whether a career lasts.

We consistently see far more exceptional, qualified applicants than we can fund, and every fellowship we’re able to award is one we can point to and say: this artist stayed in Colorado, stayed in the field, and built something lasting.

Why This Matters

This isn’t only an investment in individual artists, it’s an investment in the health of our cities. Arts and cultural production is one of the fastest-growing parts of the U.S. economy. It generated $1.17 trillion in economic activity in 2023, or 4.2% of GDP, and grew more than twice as fast as the broader economy that year. Nationally, nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generate roughly $150 billion in economic activity annually, supporting millions of jobs and driving spending at nearby restaurants, shops, and hotels. Communities with a thriving working-artist class see the effects in foot traffic, property values, tourism, and civic identity. When we fund artists, we’re funding the culture, creativity, and vibrancy that make a place worth living in.

What Your Support Makes Possible

Every fellowship dollar goes directly toward:

Unrestricted financial support that lets an artist focus on their practice instead of piecing together survival jobs
The creation of groundbreaking, innovative contemporary art.
A full year of mentorship in the entrepreneurial and business skills that build a sustainable career
A culminating exhibition that connects fellows with collectors, curators, and their communities, extending their reach long after the fellowship year ends
National visibility and recognition of artists who are pushing the boundaries of contemporary art and shaping our culture

Join Us

This year our president, Alex Blume, is committed to matching $180,000 of donations, doubling your impact. Help us reach our goal of $360,000 to support 6 fellowships in 2027. Your gift doesn’t just support artists; it strengthens the cultural fabric of Colorado and Western North Carolina, and it honors the belief that creative work deserves the same investment as any other vital profession. Join us in building a future where artists don’t have to choose between their craft and their well-being.

Support Contemporary Visual Artists

Your generosity ensures a bright future for artists across Colorado and Western North Carolina.