Independent Collectors

Independent Collectors is an online community for contemporary art collectors.[1] Founder Christian Schwarm originally launched the site in June 2008.[2] Independent Collectors is said to be the largest online resource of privately owned art and also offers forums to discuss the artwork and arrange meetings.[3][4] Independent Collectors is based in Berlin, Germany.[5] Die Zeit has described the site as a "Facebook for aesthetics".[6]

History

Schwarm originally came up with the idea based upon his own experiences of collecting contemporary artwork, noting that he was able to get to know gallery owners but not fellow collectors.[7] He then teamed up with Ulrich Grothe and Uwe Thomas to found the website in 2008 to allow for easier communication between collectors.[8][9] In 2009 the site entered into a partnership with automobile manufacturer BMW, as well as entering into a content-based partnership with AXA Art.[10]

BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors

In 2012 Independent Collectors and BMW created the project BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors, a guidebook featuring 173 private but publicly accessible collections of contemporary art from around the world.[11] Next to the addresses of the private collections are short essays concerning all aspects of collecting art.[12] The guidebook was presented during Art Basel.[13] In September 2013 the second extended version of the Art Guide was published by Hatje Cantz.[14] 49 new private art collections were added to the collections initially featured in the first version of the Art Guide.[15] BMW and Independent Collectors also launched the BMW Art Guide Blog early 2013 to accompany the latest edition. The blog features among others behind the scenes posts about the publication.[16]

Website

The website offers the ability to manage an entire art collection online as well as the ability to present exhibitions.[17] One of the members, Wilhelm Schürmann, used the exhibition function to curate an exhibition titled 'Das Gespinnt', which was shown at Abteiberg Museum in Mönchengladbach.[9] The site has a search function that can focus on location, artist or members name, although users can select to keep their identity anonymous. The changes in the site came after relaunch in December 2011. In 2013 Independent Collectors has nearly 5,000 registered members and over 20,000 works of art are uploaded by the members.[18][19] Each application is individually verified.[20] Members are required to adhere to the ethical code of Independent Collectors stating that they will not promote their own business.[9] The site has three options for membership, a free basic membership and a paid membership that marks you as a supporting or patron collector.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "News-Detail". Art-Magazin. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  2. ↑ "News-Detail". Artinfo. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  3. ↑ "Leidenschaft schlägt Kalkül". Handelsblatt. Retrieved 7 November 2012..
  4. ↑ "50 under 50: The most exciting young collectors worldwide (part II)". Artinfo. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Quiero arte, no (solo) dinero, El País, 28 June 2011, retrieved 24 August 2012
  6. ↑ "Facebook für Ästheten". Zeit Online. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  7. ↑ Showroom im Netz, Tagesspiegel, 21 March 2009, retrieved 2 November 2012
  8. ↑ "Pon tus cuadros en mi muro". Vanguardia. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Jane O'Sullivan (6 October 2011), Collecting Trends: Christian Schwarm, Australian Art Collector, retrieved 24 August 2012
  10. ↑ "Press release: INDEPENDENT COLLECTORS". AXA Art. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  11. ↑ BMW Art Guide=Sleek Mag, 29 June 2012, retrieved 2 November 2012
  12. ↑ "Eine Kirche namens Kunst". Monopol. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "What people are talking about BMW Art Guide". Vogue Italia. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  14. ↑ | title=Öffentliche Privatsache= Florian Zobl p.28 - 29.|date=24. November 2013|
  15. ↑ A FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW BMW ART GUIDE BY INDEPENDENT COLLECTORS=Borowik, July 2013, retrieved 4 December 2013
  16. ↑ Anna Rudenko (1 July 2013), BMW initiates a blog as a supplement to the paper edition of the "BMW Art Guide by Independent Collectors", Popsop, retrieved 4 December 2013
  17. ↑ Christiane Fricke (1 October 2011), Leidenschaft schlägt Kalkül, Handelsblatt, retrieved 24 August 2012
  18. ↑ Jennifer Becker (10 January 2012), Relaunch bei den Independent Collectors, Kunst Magazin, retrieved 24 August 2012
  19. ↑ "Contemporary Club Culture - Interview with Independent Collector`s team". Indechs. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  20. ↑ "Indipendent-Collectors: intervista al padre della community per collezionisti". Collezione da Tiffany. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  21. ↑ "Independent Collectors - Kunstgalerie im Web 2.0". International Business Times. Retrieved 7 November 2012.

External links