A FINE ART FAIR

BUTTER is a multi-day fine art fair that centers the care and economic viability of Black visual artists nationwide. BUTTER is the signature experiment of GANGGANG’s to test new models toward equity in the art and culture industry. After just 2 national fairs, BUTTER has been tagged by the New York Times as a viable blueprint for equity fair standards, has distributed more than $500,000 to 70 individual artists and has elevated Midwest Black artists nationwide.

BUTTER is a curated fair that happens in downtown Indianapolis the weekend before Labor Day. It has a commitment to finding unrepresented artists nationally, keeping significant space for Indiana-based artists and working with galleries at all layers of the industry.

BUTTER 2023 will take place between August 30 – September 3 in historic Indiana Avenue on the Stutz campus.

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BUTTER is a multi-day fine art fair that centers and elevates Black artists.

Black artists have benefited from a long-overdue abundance of invitations to exhibit, participate, and weigh-in. However, the cultural infrastructure for artists is lacking, and the roadmap to career advancement and financial sustainability has been unclear. BUTTER aims to change this.

BUTTER invites guests to see and experience contemporary art in new ways, all while advocating for the value and worth of Black artists. The fair was created by GANGGANG to test a new model for reparations in the arts, with a focus on care, authenticity, and economic justice.

In just two years, BUTTER has made a bright impact on Indianapolis and beyond. By returning 100% of artwork sales back to the artists, the fair is an experiment in elevating standards across the art industry and the economic viability of being an artist.

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“BUTTER: A Fine Art Fair certainly fulfilled GANGGANG’s promise to support creative economy and equity, and continues to form a platform and leadership that expands what this city needs the most.” - NUVO

READ THE FULL 2022 SUMMARY

Details

Who We Are

GANGGANG is a cultural development firm that activates the creative economy to center beauty, equity, and culture in cities. Mali Jeffers and Alan Bacon, co-founders of GANGGANG, are the brains behind BUTTER, the couple’s first fine art fair. This year, the pair is working alongside a team of expert curators and partners to make the magic happen.

BUTTER 2022 Sponsors

TITLE SPONSOR:
AES Indiana

PRESENTING SPONSOR:
J.P. Morgan Chase

TOP SPONSORS:
Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation
The Indianapolis Foundation
OneAmerica

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS:

Barnes & Thornburg
Black Onyx Management
Browning
Buckingham Companies
Buckingham Foundation
Elements Financial
Eskenazi Health
Griffith Family
Herron School of Art + Design IUPUI
Indiana University Health
Indy Arts Council
Kite Realty
Mays Chemical
Maywright Property Co.
Meridian Foundation
NFP
PNC Bank
Rachel Simon and Jennifer Simon
SomeraRoad
The National Bank of Indianapolis
Visit Indy

IN-KIND SPONSORS:

Amelia’s
Ash & Elm Cider Co.
AGT Catering
Birdie Brown
Brehob Nurseries
CityWay
Conrad Indianapolis
Create.Connect.Collab
Hi & Mighty
Indianapolis Recorder
IndyGo
Join
Liberty Tire Recycling
Newfields
OUTFRONT Media
Pivot
Plug
Red Bull
Sip & Share
Solid State
Sullivan’s Hardware
SunKing
Uncle Nearest
Where’s Mike G?

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