About this project

Both emerging artists AND emerging designers from around the world deserve a large scale exhibition facility dedicated to the exhibition of their works. We're building it. Join us!

After creating public exhibition opportunities for over 200 emerging artists and designers from around the world over the past two years at a well serving but small gallery space in New Orleans, BECA: Bridge for Emerging Contemporary Art, is embarking on a path to create the world's first large scale exhibition facility dedicated to the exhibition of new works of art + design by both emerging artists AND emerging designers from around the world. The new international art + design exhibition facility will be named, BECA ICAD, the latter being an acronym for International Center for Art + Design.

The organization's core belief is that "NEW ART + NEW DESIGN FUELS THE BEST OF WHAT'S YET TO COME ON THIS PLANET". This new exhibition facility will serve the local, national and international art + design communities and the participating public. BECA ICAD will exhibit new works of all creative culminations within a series of 5 indoor and outdoor galleries. Works will include but will not be limited to: site-specific installations, painting, sculpture, mixed-media, drawing, printmaking, fiber, textiles, illustration, digital art, photography, video/new media, film, performance art, music and sound focused works, 3D animation, graphic design, product design, furniture design, haute couture fashion + accessories, architectural interventions/designs and functional art, etc. BECA ICAD will welcome an ever-changing, international rotating body of professionally affiliated and independent guest curators to ensure broad diversity within its public exhibitions while providing the broadest base of opportunities and exposure for participating artists + designers.

The question we are asked fairly regularly is, "What is an emerging artist/designer?". We typically view an emerging artist/designer as one who has not yet had a major solo exhibition in a contemporary art center or museum. Some view the term 'emerging' as 'early career'. Most artists and designers do define it for themselves and we prefer to ultimately leave it up to each individual artist/designer.

Although found more readily abroad, contemporary design is not currently featured extensively in exhibitions throughout the United States, especially with regards to works by emerging designers. BECA was one of the first artspaces in the United States to dedicate part of its exhibition programming to featuring works by emerging contemporary designers from around the world. Many artists and designers will argue that although there are any number of exhibition opportunities for contemporary artists, the pool of opportunities dedicated to works by emerging artists and designers is too small. To BECA, that translates into valuable missed opportunities for artists, designers and the public to engage in dialogue with one another while global society in general loses out on the enrichment and advancement that the broader expanse of emerging contemporary art + design offers. It is our intent for BECA ICAD to provide those opportunities to artists, designers and the public.

Educational programming and opportunities are also being developed, the first of which will involve early career designers and advanced students. Early practitioners and advanced students of architectural design, communication design, interactive design, information architecture, interior design, graphic design, web design, product, lighting and furniture design will be invited to participate in the actual development of the facility.

Our overall capital campaign goal is $3 million for the completion of the facility which will occupy 10,000 - 50,000 square feet (929 sq. meters - 4,645 sq. meters) depending on overall funds raised. In order to secure the location for the facility and begin renovation/construction, we need to raise $300,000 (10% of our overall goal). Our growing international network is currently composed of approximately 30,000 artists, designers, art/design enthusiasts, curators, directors, writers and other creative producers. If each of you reading this pledges $5 - $10 and asks one friend to do the same we'll meet this goal. Plus, if we reach our goal, each pledge receives a little somethin', somethin' and a BIG THANK YOU! We're excited about this opportunity and we will personally perform hula hoops for people if that's what it takes to make our goal! (In response to a special request...video coming soon)

We understand that the above is but a brief description of the overall project. Please feel free to pick up the phone and call us at 504-566-8999 or email us at mail@thebecafoundation.org anytime. To learn more about us and our arts org, please view our current websites: http://www.thebecafoundation.org, http://www.BECAICAD.org and http://www.CurateThis.org We also have a video posted at: http://www.youtube.com/watch...

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING NEW ART + NEW DESIGN + NEW IDEAS!,
The BECA crew

(** links back to supporter websites subject to BECA ICAD review)