Artist Support Pledge is “an example of a new patronage model, a sort of venture philanthropy.”
Anders Petterson, ArtTACTI
On 16 March 2020, as the UK locked down as a response to Covid-19, artist Matthew Burrows had an idea of how to support artists struggling financially during the pandemic by using social media and centred on Instagram #artistsupportpledge.
Artist Support Pledge (ASP) asks artists and makers to post images on Instagram using the #artistsupportpledge hashtag, giving details of their works and price to a maximum of £200. If people are interested in buying, they direct message the artist. Every time an artist reaches £1,000 of sales, they pledge to buy £200 of work from other artist(s).
Over the last 18 months, ASP has become a global phenomenon with 90K followers. Its spirit of mutual support and generosity has enabled artists worldwide to maintain a vital income stream at a time when most sales channels disappeared overnight, and artists found themselves facing uncertain financial futures.
This simple artist-to-patron, artist-to-artist formula has proved revolutionary. ASP was set up as an emergency response to a desperate situation but has now evolved into a new cultural economy formed out of a simple idea. Since 2020 it is estimated that over £100 million of sales have been generated through the ASP movement
Working closely with arts organisations Hastings Contemporary, The New Art Gallery Walsall & leading arts professionals, ASP has evolved to include a digital and live programme for participants.
Further information on Artist Matthew Burrows
More than half of art collectors (55%) bought art works online to directly support artists and arts organisations. A quarter said they had bought art directly through fundraising campaigns’ Instagram pages, such as the Artist Support Pledge; this was even higher among younger collectors.
Hiscox online Art Trade Rep
Selected Press

The New York Times
12th November, 2020 by Scott Reyburn
A Pledge to Help Artists Becomes a Lucrative Lifeline
With galleries and fairs shut, a British painter created a campaign to help others sell their work online during the pandemic. Estimates suggest that millions of dollars in sales have been generated.

Apollo Magazine
19th November, 2020
Apollo Awards, Personality of the Year Matthew Burrows
The online selling platform helping artists make a living now has more than 69,000 followers, has produced 447,000 posts and generated around £70m in sales.
Press Articles & Links
Artnet, Wallpaper, The Net Gallery House &Garden Art Review , The Art Newsletter, The Art Newsletter, Inspiring City, Apollo Magazine The New York Times The Royal Drawing School Tech 4 Good Modern Forms, Artist Newsletter Gatekeeper Art, fundraising & Philanthropy Points of Light – Downing St, dateagle, Chapter, 10 Magazine, Artweb, Artworld Online, Craft Council, Fad Magazine, Camberwell Arts, The Glass Magazine, Accentuate The Good Web Guide, Showstudio, Paint Club, The Value, The Slade School Fine Art Jackons Art, Benchpeg, Living etc, Quartz, Goodnet, Art Review, Wish Magazine, The Wick, Studio International Financial Times, Inquirer FAD Magazine, Mutal Art, V & A