💥Manifesto for a More Responsible Art Culture

“By a concerned citizen, art lover, and professional working within the art field in Finland."

The art world is in crisis — not because artists lack talent or audiences lack interest, but because the system that funds and presents art has lost sight of its purpose. Museums, galleries, and grant structures have begun to operate with money as the primary driver, leaving the viewer's experience behind. It's time to call this out.

In contemporary art, there is an obsession with "challenging the viewer." But when provocation becomes an end in itself, it often results in hollow works that fail to connect. Empty boxes, contextless video installations, or pieces whose production value clearly doesn't match their budget leave the audience feeling deceived.

I speak from experience. I work within the art field and have firsthand insight into how projects are funded, produced, and presented. I know how budgets are allocated — and how often the final work does not reflect the resources claimed. This isn't support for art — it's exploitation of the system.

Honest art doesn't mean cheap art. It means the artist is sincere in their expression, that the work reflects the resources used, and that the budget isn't treated as personal income. Today, we know that many works are produced with a fraction of the requested funds, yet artists still receive the full amount. This undermines trust and damages the integrity of the entire field.

Institutions and curators carry immense responsibility. Their role isn't just to provide space, but to uphold artistic quality, ethics, and the viewer's experience. Curators should be able to assess whether a work required the budget it claimed, and institutions should demand transparency: receipts, budget tracking, and a system where funds are held by the museum — not transferred directly to the artist.

A responsible art institution:

• Calls out misconduct when it sees it
• Prioritizes the viewer's experience over internal politics
• Seeks meaningful, resonant art, not soulless conceptual shells
• Demands transparency and accountability in funding

This is not an attack on artists — it's a call for better practices. The art world can be honest, moving, and responsible. But it requires that we acknowledge the problems and begin to speak about them. Art is not just self-expression — it's a shared experience that deserves respect.

It's time to build a more responsible art culture. Audiences deserve it. Artists deserve it. Art itself deserves it.

🔥 This is a Flash Grenade.
Anonymous. Unfiltered. Personal. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not reflect the official stance of ART Walkway.

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