There are many things in this world we could improve, and at ArtCan we like to be part of the process of change.

Through our Philanthropic Programme we look for themes or issues to promote, whether they are human rights or environmental issues, we look to reach out to the public by providing another perspective.

Our process is to chose a theme we currently feel strongly about, set up an exhibition and reach out to relevant charities and speakers and invite them to share a platform with ArtCan artists.

World Water Day 2017 – ArtCan’s Exhibition Every Drop Counts, Clerkenwell, London also included an educational outreach campaign, ‘Message in a Bottle’ in conjunction with Thames Water and WaterAid UK, based at the London Wetlands Centre and the Unicorn Theatre London Bridge.

International Day of the Girl Child 2018 at the Resource Centre London, really made a practical impact as well as being a thought-provoking ArtCan Exhibition. At the private view Ruby Raut of Wuka gave a talk on period poverty and her experiences growing up in Nepal.

We teamed up with Hibiscus Initiative, a charity who support disenfranchised women by providing legal advice and a safe, women only space. ArtCan offered a group of clients the opportunity to learn more about the professional art world by shadowing us during the set-up, hanging and private view.

In 2021, ArtCan became a member of the Gallery Climate Coalition. The goal of the GCC is to facilitate a greener and more sustainable commercial art world. The aim is to provide guidelines and the necessary resources so that we can collectively reduce our carbon footprint by 50% over the next ten years (in line with the Paris agreement), as well as promoting near zero-waste practices.

As GCC member ArtCan will:

• Commit to a carbon estimate using the GCC online calculator. Carry out more detailed carbon audits (where possible) to monitor sources of emissions that need reducing, and to track ongoing progress.
• Commit to implement changes in operations to reduce carbon footprints by 50% over the next ten years.
• Reduce waste.
• Compensate emissions by donating to companies committed to systemic change.
• Recognise and work towards mitigating embedded climate injustice.

Catherine Fenton
ArtCan Philanthropic Programme Director