Mana Contemporary Launches Hybrid Platform Aimed at Democratizing Art Market and Supporting Artists of All Ages and Mediums

JERSEY CITY, N.J., April 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Renowned arts community Mana Contemporary today announced Mana Decentralized, a physical and digital platform combining an online, direct-to-collector marketplace and physical hubs where artists can access career development services. Supporting artists across all stages of their careers, Mana Decentralized provides creatives with the necessary industry knowledge and infrastructure to achieve long-term success in the arts, including affordable studio space, community programming, mentorship, legal services and more.

Mana will launch the new program during its annual Spring Open House, set to take place at the sprawling Mana Jersey City campus on Sunday, April 28. As part of the event, Mana will also open the first Mana Decentralized Hub—a physical site featuring affordable studios and gallery spaces where auctions, forums and other events will be held— as well as the program's initial online art database, which will include works from a global community of artists, all accessibly priced between $500-$5,000. The database can be found at manadecentralized.com.

"This is the most significant step to date in our mission to empower and support artists of all ages and disciplines," says Eugene Lemay, art director for Mana Contemporary. "With Decentralized, we're focusing much more on the quality of the work over its perceived market value, an approach we hope results in additional opportunities for artists and a much more inviting art world as a whole."

Starting April 28, the Hub will display works by Decentralized artists in the context of an inaugural salon-style exhibition. The works were submitted anonymously and reviewed by panel of respected art world luminaries, including curators, gallerists, journalists and more. In addition to visual arts programming, this first Hub allows community members to also experience music and dance performances, lecture programs, film screenings, and exclusive social events. Hubs will soon expand to Mana's Chicago and Miami campuses, gaining a footprint worldwide and incorporating a network that is global in vision and reach. The Hub will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays for sales and consulting.

Noteworthy participants in this year's Spring Open House include: AUNTS, Camila Cañeque, ColemanCollective, Carlito Dalceggio, Jamie Diamond, Jazz House Kids, Ase Manual, Kyle Marshall Choreography, MoMA Ready, Pegasus at Mana, threeASFOUR, Camille Thurman and Darrell Green Trio, Gillian Walsh and Rashad Wright.

Other exhibitions on show during the open house include: Flat Out: Drawings, 2000-2019, curated by Ysabel Pinyol Blasi and Karline Moeller as well as Afrofuturist visionary Rammellzee's1982 work, Magistrate, presented by the Ayn Foundation.

Mana Contemporary hosts two open houses each year and all donations support future exhibitions, residencies and other arts programming. For additional information, please visit: www.manacontemporary.com.

About Mana Contemporary:

Founded in 2011, Mana Contemporary is dedicated to providing a platform for contemporary art and artists through exhibitions, studio programs and public programs. Mana's community network began in New Jersey and has since expanded to include Mana Chicago and Mana Miami. Mana Contemporary continues to create new partnership opportunities that explore the intersection of contemporary art, design, new technologies and music. For more information, please visit www.manacontemporary.com.

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SOURCE Mana Contemporary

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