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January 11, 2006
Instead of asking for money, let's just make our own
A fascinating initiative out of Denmark is working to forge a new international currency out of art (not a metaphorical currency, but an actual tradable commodity). Art Money can be used to buy goods and services (admittedly, not in very many places), and each unit of the money has a defined cash value. According to the web site:
Art money is an original art object measuring 12x18 cm, issued by an artist registered in BIAM [the Bank of International Art Money], showing serial number, year of production, artist name and original signature. Each bill represents a purchasing power equal to 20 Euro, increasing in value to 50 Euro over seven years.
The project is a more ambitious and structured version of something many artists have done in the past -- like J.S.G. Boggs, who got into some trouble with the U.S. Mint for his creations, or Alec Thibodeau's Noney which intentionally has a face value of zero, since the actual value is negotiated at the point of sale. It's a wonderful reminder that currency is among our most persistent and invisible cultural objects -- valuable only because both sides in a transaction believe it to be.
If nonprofit arts organizations embraced this idea, perhaps someday banks and affluent individuals would be coming to us for cash.
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Comments
I tried to get a project going on a city scale which would involve an Interac Bank card allowing anyone interested in supporting the arts, to agree to 1 cent being added to every purchase/withdrawl and dedicated to an "Arts" account. From there the local Arts Council would divide it in an agreeable way amoung the needs of the local arts scene.
Joan Sutherland on January 15, 2006 4:14 PM
This sounds a bit like Ithaca Hours (http://www.ithacahours.com/).
Bill Harris on January 15, 2006 12:16 AM