One of our very own students at Lamar Dodd School of Art is working with The Red & Black to launch Art for Athens, an online fundraiser to benefit local service industry. 100% of proceeds from sales of prints and other art will benefit the Garrie Vereen Memorial Emergency Relief Fund and the Giving Kitchen.

As the COVID-19 crisis hits the service industry hard, The Red & Black is offering a way for consumers and local artists to support the industry with an online sale of local artwork. Donated work will be sold and shipped through The Red & Black’s online sales portal. 

The Garrie Vereen Memorial Emergency Relief Fund is a local fund that supports workers in the Athens arts, music, and service industries. Despite having to close their doors to the public, Nuçi’s Space is continuing to advocate for creative community for which Athens is known. They have reestablished and rebranded the Garrie Vereen Memorial Emergency Relief Fund to support musicians, artists, crew, venue and bar employees, and everyone else in who helps the Athens entertainment industry thrive. Their goal is to help those peers who will be hit the hardest by the economic shut-down and are not eligible for assistance through traditional channels.

The Giving Kitchen is a Georgia-based nonprofit that assists restaurant workers by providing financial assistance to those in crisis due to an unexpected illness, injury, death of an immediate family member or housing disaster. Currently, they are focusing on assisting food service workers in Georgia who have been affected by COVID-19.

“We can do our work remotely, but many in Athens were instantly hurt by social distancing requirements and the state of emergency here,” said Brandon Dudley, Red & Black creative services manager and class of 2020 student in the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. “We needed to find a way to give back and connect the creative and service communities.”

The Red & Black created a section of its online merchandise store to promote and sell artwork, making it easy for both artists and consumers to engage with the project. 

“We have the infrastructure for secure sales and nationwide shipping in place, so it will make it easy for artists to participate,” said Melissa Mooney, The Red & Black’s operations manager. 

Artists interested in participating will donate their work and set their own prices while The Red & Black markets and promotes the pieces and handles shipping and payment processing. 100% of net proceeds (minus packaging and postage) will be split between the two charities mentioned above.

The sale is kicking off with a series of posters and cards featuring Athens landmarks such as Weaver D’s and Hi-Lo Lounge.  These are works by Athens-based illustrator James Burns, a former professor at Savannah College of Art and Design, who is donating all of his existing inventory to the fundraiser. He also created a limited-edition art print of his poster of the Georgia Theatre featuring its new COVID-19 marquee sign that reads “We love you Athens. Wash Your Hands. Be Safe.” Giclée printing for art prints is donated by Robert Lowery who owns Athens-based Lowery Gallery and Lowery Imaging.

“I wanted to find a way to give back and follow social distancing policies and this was a way I could support these businesses as they struggle,” said Burns.

Any artists who wish to donate works to the fundraiser can contact Brandon Dudley. Prints and posters that are easy to ship are preferred, but any work will be accepted.

About The Red & Black

Founded in 1893, The Red & Black is a student news organization that covers the University of Georgia and Athens. We are a 510c3 nonprofit with the dual mission of training students for careers in the news media and supplying our audience with an exceptional news source. Independent of the university, we receive no funding from UGA and support ourselves through advertising sales and donations. We publish news daily at redandblack.com and publish a weekly newspaper when UGA classes are in session.

For more information on how to participate, visit our student opportunity page dedicated to this project.