I want to pay £5 per month to 10 artists 👀

I’ve meant to write this post for a while now, but I wanted to do some research first. So, here we are—let’s talk about Artist Monthly Patronage! We already pay monthly subscriptions for other forms of culture like movies, books, articles, music, and podcasts, so why not fine art?

Let me share an example of an artist who’s already embraced this concept. @ellenvonwiegand is a printmaker who runs a Monthly Print Club. For nine months, her supporters receive a beautiful print each month, with the creation process shared on her Instagram. I’m lucky to own a collection of these prints! She was the one who inspired me to write this post.

You might think that if you’re a painter, sculptor, conceptual artist, or someone whose work takes more time or can’t be easily reproduced, you can offer a subscription. But that’s not the case at all! There are plenty of ways to show appreciation to your supporters, even if you can’t give them your work directly.

Here are a few ideas:

✅Include a list of your supporters on the certificate when you sell a piece.

✅Ask curators to include this list in your exhibition labels.

✅Offer studio visits, early catalogues, or discounts on your work.

These are just a few possibilities, but I know many people are willing to support artists financially simply because they want to see you continue creating. They don’t always expect something in return—I’m one of those people.

I understand that offering a subscription might feel “inappropriate” in a world where the art scene can seem pretentious, much like including prices on your website. But remember, creating art can be more than just a hobby. It can be your job. The process, the transportation, the research, and the materials—these all cost money. You deserve to be paid for your work. Think about the exhibitions you’ve been part of where you weren’t paid—even for sales! Offering patronage could give you the independence you need from galleries.

Back to Ellen’s example: many collectors only decide to buy art after getting to know the artist over time. They want to feel confident that the artist won’t suddenly stop creating. For nine months, I collected Ellen’s prints, and when she started painting, I knew I wanted to own one of her unique works. I was certain of the quality and appreciated her gratitude for the support, so I wanted to support her even more when the opportunity arose.

From my experience, having a subscription can be stressful because you might worry about meeting expectations or keeping up with what you promised. So why not start small? For £5 a month, you could send short emails that provide insight into your process and reassure your supporters that their money is well spent. Haven’t created any art that month? No problem! Be honest and share that you’ve decided to focus on your mental health or research. The art world can seem mysterious and inaccessible, but remember, your supporters believe in you and want to see you succeed!

Another reason I believe in Artist Monthly Patronage is that I often hear artists say they lack studio visits and people to talk to about their art, and I feel like no one notices them. A patronage can give you an audience to create for, a sounding board for your ideas, and a source of feedback.

You might think it’s not worth investing more time and effort for just £5 a month, but what if you gained 100 subscribers? That could cover the cost of renting a studio. And in time, you could increase your subscription fee to £15 or more. I subscribe to a few friends who write or podcast, not just for the extra content but because I want to support their passion and growth. Sometimes, I don’t have time to go through everything they create, but that’s okay. The money is there to help them develop their skills, which matters most to me.

So, if you’re offering a monthly subscription or have an idea in mind, send me a DM or email at info@professionalartbullshitter.com and let’s chat!

However, please keep in mind that I receive a high volume of emails and messages, so it may take me some time to respond. But rest assured, I will get back to you eventually.