accidental gatekeepers: how we unknowingly silence artist stories.

tldr;

we like to think that if you're talented, you’ll make it. but the truth is, the art world has "gatekeepers" and invisible rules that make it easier for some people to be heard while others are ignored. BLANK believes that artists don't need to wait for someone’s permission to tell their unique stories.

why the art world isn't always a fair fight.

there’s a popular idea that art is a "meritocracy." basically, the idea is that if you’re good enough and work hard enough, you’ll eventually get the gallery show, the grant, or the spotlight.

but if you look closer, you’ll notice that the people getting the most attention often come from the same types of backgrounds. they went to the same schools, they know the same people, and they speak the same "art world" language. for everyone else, it can feel like trying to scream through a thick glass wall.

at BLANK, we want to look at why that glass wall exists in the first place.

the invisible "no"

it’s rarely about someone telling an artist "your story isn't allowed." instead, it’s a series of smaller hurdles that add up:

• the "who you know" problem: so much of the art world happens in private rooms and through "insider" introductions. if you aren't already in those circles, you don't even know the doors exist, let alone how to knock on them.

• the cost of entry: applying for big art shows or grants often costs money and takes hours of "business" work. if you're working two jobs just to pay for paint, you're already starting ten steps behind someone who has a safety net.

• the "safe" choice: galleries and collectors often buy what they recognize. if your art talks about truths that make people uncomfortable or features stories they haven't seen before, they might call it "too risky."

• the gatekeepers: the people who decide what is "good" art usually share a very specific perspective. when the judges all look and think the same, the winners usually look and think the same, too.

why this matters for everyone

when the system only lets certain stories through, we all lose. we end up seeing the same ideas over and over again, and the "truth" of our culture gets narrowed down to a tiny, filtered version of reality.

we think that "starving artist" isn't a badge of honour, rather it’s a sign that the system is broken. it's not that there isn't enough room for every story; it's that the megaphone is being hogged by the privileged few.

our mission at BLANK

we started BLANK because we got tired of waiting for the gatekeepers to open the doors. we wanted a place where the only thing that matters is the honesty of the work.

no "art-speak" required. no fancy degree necessary. just the truth.

watch the interview

our latest profile with amber rose dives deep into this. we invite you to sit with the question, “is the system designed to silence certain artist stories?" and amber's perspective on how economic status affects creativity.

watch amber's full artist profile on the BLANK youtube channel here.