We’re raising $1,000,000 to launch Afro Indigenous Art Fair, a groundbreaking new art fair taking place in Seattle, Summer 2026—the first of its kind to pay every participating artist upfront and celebrate artists of African and Indigenous descent on a global stage.

Why This Matters

Across the U.S., funding for the arts is being slashed—from the NEA to NEH to IMLS. At the same time, artists from the diaspora remain the least represented in the global art economy. Instead of critiquing institutions about how they represent and/or fund our artistic visions, it time to represent and fund ourselves.

We don’t have a Sotheby’s, Christie’s, or Gagosian.

It’s time to build our own.

What Your Gift Supports

We’re raising $1,000,000 to fully fund the inaugural Afro Indigenous Art Fair—a groundbreaking cultural event that centers artists from the African and Indigenous diasporas, pays them upfront, and builds a new institution rooted in equity, artistic excellence, cultural diversity and economic empowerment.

Below is an approximate breakdown of how we’ll use the funds. These estimates will be refined as we bring on key team members and receive advisement from our board of advisors.

Staffing & Team

Curatorial Committee (3 curators for 6 months) — $120,000

Responsible for selecting artists, shaping the visual identity, and ensuring cultural integrity throughout the fair.

Fair Director (12 months) — $75,000

Provides executive leadership, oversees all departments, and ensures that the fair is visionary, sustainable, and artist-first.

Marketing & PR Director (6 months) — $50,000

Leads strategy for media outreach, branding, and positioning the fair within the national and global art markets.

Sales & Sponsorship Director (12 months) — $90,000

Secures institutional and brand partnerships, oversees art sales strategy, and helps underwrite the fair through earned revenue.

Finance & Operations Manager (6 months) — $55,000

Manages budgeting, payroll, contracts, and backend infrastructure with transparency and accountability.

Social Media Team (2 people for 6 months) — $84,000

Produces and distributes high-quality content across Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms to build audience engagement and visibility.

Production Manager (3 months) — $45,000

Coordinates logistics for installation, shipping, fabrication, and execution of the event.

Staffing Subtotal: $519,000

️ Artist Support

Artist Payments & Commissions — $250,000

We believe artists should be paid for their labor—not just when something sells. This includes exhibition stipends, new commissions, and/or direct acquisitions from participating artists.

️ Production & Venue

Venue Rental & Installation Costs — $200,000

For a large-scale venue in Seattle (similar in scale to the Seattle Art Fair), including shipping, wall construction, lighting, labor, and materials.

Security, Insurance & Janitorial Services — $75,000

To ensure the safety, cleanliness, and protection of the art, artists, staff, and attendees.

Outreach & Infrastructure

Marketing Materials, Website, Print Collateral, Digital Ads — $50,000

(In addition to work by salaried marketing & social media teams)

✅ TOTAL BUDGET:

$519,000 (Staffing)

$250,000 (Artist Support)

$275,000 (Production & Venue)

$50,000 (Marketing Materials & Ads)

= $1,094,000

These numbers reflect our starting estimates and will be adjusted as we bring on team members and receive advisement from our board.

This budget ensures that the fair is professionally produced, artist-first, and structurally sound—led by a qualified team with deep expertise in fine art, event production, sales, and community engagement.

Your donation directly helps us build a lasting institution that honors, funds, and celebrates the brilliance of Afro-Indigenous artists.

Who's Behind It

The fair is founded by John Wesley, a global art dealer and curator who has:

Spoken at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Helped TASWIRA Gallery achieve record success in 2024/2025

Founded City of Light Gallery in Seattle (2021)

Curated exhibitions in NYC, Mexico City, Seattle, and more

Has produced programming with Seattle Art Museum and it a community partner with the institution

Secured a $300,000 Mellon Foundation grant for a NYC-based art collective in 2024

Worked with artists and institutions around the world to build sustainable creative careers

John Wesley is committed to empowering artists and building platforms that reflect the brilliance of the Afro-Indigenous diaspora.

Why Now?

This is a historic opportunity to:

Create the first major international fair for Afro-Indigenous art

Fund artists directly, bypassing outdated gatekeepers

Root this movement in Seattle, a city with a growing global art scene

Protect the cultural future of communities being pushed out of creative spaces

What You Can Do

Donate what you can (every dollar builds the foundation) and then SHARE this on your Instagram/Tiktok.

Sponsor a booth, artist, or program (DM for major sponsorship info)

Whether it’s $10 or $10,000—you’re helping launch a movement that honors the past, transforms the present, and builds a powerful future.

We’re not waiting for institutions to include us.

We’re building our own.