Above: Aaron Kudi, alumni of SR_A’s Black British Arts Grant Programme. Image courtesy of Jake-Isaac Elwin.
ARTNOIR and Sotheby’s today announce the inaugural UK edition of the Jar of Love Fund, a microgrant initiative providing support, mentorship and career development for artists, designers, curators, and cultural producers of color. This marks an international expansion of the fund which has already established a prominent grantmaking presence in the US. For the 2024 UK iteration, the Jar of Love Fund partners with Dr. Samuel Ross MBE’s Black British Artist Grants Programme by SR_A, which aims to bridge the gap between community and industry by supporting Black British and POC creatives through talent recognition, resources, and collaborations, promoting sustainable change and visibility in the arts, design, and fashion sectors.
During this grant cycle, the Jar of Love Fund will offer unrestricted grants of $5,000 to recipients in London, with an open call for London applicants starting August 14, 2024. Grantees are selected by an esteemed committee of art industry peers with the 2024 London cohort set to be announced during Frieze London (October 9-13, 2024).
“ARTNOIR is proud to partner with Sotheby’s again in our ongoing Jar of Love Fund, aptly named to align with our mission at ARTNOIR to chart a new course in the arts where groundbreaking artists, curators and cultural producers of color receive the support they need to leave a lasting legacy,” states Larry Ossei-Mensah, Co-Founder of ARTNOIR. “We are thrilled to expand the reach of the Jar of Love Fund internationally by partnering with Dr. Samuel Ross and SR_A, an organization aligned with our mission at ARTNOIR. I believe this collaboration will enable us to offer our ongoing support, mentorship and community to creatives of color in London.”
Founded by ARTNOIR in 2020, the Jar of Love Fund is an unrestricted microgrant program that continues to expand. The 2024 Jar of Love Fund partnership between ARTNOIR and Sotheby’s is in its second year and will include initiatives in both New York and London. The New York application launched in June , with the selected grantees to be announced later this summer. In 2023, grants were awarded to 50 grantees, with more than $50,000 distributed to a diverse ensemble of artists and creatives.
In 2024, ARTNOIR is proud to announce that its organizational impact will now be international through a new partnership with Dr. Samuel Ross MBE, founder of the Black British Artist Grants Programme by SR_A. SR_A has a proven track record of supporting exceptional Black British artists and creatives, with past recipients including emerging talents like Aaron Kudi, who has gone on to achieve significant milestones such as inclusion in the prestigious UBS Art Collection. Kudi’s work has also been featured in international exhibitions, including a site-specific installation for Frieze London and exhibited at the Louis Vuitton Foundation.
SR_A’s mission is to amplify Black British contributions to the global creative economy, fostering long-term change through grants, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. Their work includes not only financial support but also providing critical resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy to ensure that diverse voices are represented and celebrated within the creative industries.
The collaboration between the Jar of Love Fund and SR_A marks a significant milestone, leveraging SR_A’s expertise and commitment to support a new wave of talent in London and beyond.
The 2024 grantees will form a cohort and benefit from professional development opportunities that provide a forum for fellowship and further strengthen the grantees’ relationships with the wider arts & culture community. This year, we welcome an esteemed selection committee to help us determine the 2024 cohort of grantees in London. Committee members for London include leading British academic and historic art institutions.
“At Sotheby’s, we’re committed to more than just financial support — we’re here to empower artists through workshops, events, and building meaningful connections. By bringing together the communities of New York and London, we’re creating new opportunities for collaboration where there might not have been before. Our partnership with ARTNOIR and SR_A shows how coming together can break down barriers and help build a more inclusive, connected cultural landscape.” states Walden Huntley-Fenner, Sotheby’s AVP, Equity & Impact.
For the past decade, ARTNOIR has worked tirelessly as an agent of social change, catalyzing equity across the arts and culture industries. As an organization built on community support, ARTNOIR’s goal is to provide relief, love, and care for artists, designers, curators, and cultural producers when they need it most. The unrestricted Jar of Love Fund, established in 2020 in response to the pandemic’s unprecedented challenges, has grown into a vital grantmaking program, distributing more than $100,000 USD to date.
Similarly, SR_A has been instrumental in advancing Black British creatives through its Black British Artist Grants Programme. SR_A’s initiative provides crucial support and resources, fostering talent and creating opportunities for artists to thrive in the global creative economy. Together, ARTNOIR and SR_A’s collaborative efforts are not only alleviating immediate burdens but also driving long-term, systemic change in the creative sector. Their combined impact ensures that diverse voices are recognized, celebrated, and empowered to shape the future of the arts.
Visit artnoir.org/jaroflove for more information and access to the application.
