MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 2, 2012 – In 2009, the National Endowment for the Arts reported that the unemployment rate among artists is unlikely to improve until long after the U.S. economy starts to recover. For the nearly half of artists nationwide who did not work full time, trying to make ends meet with a median income of about $20,000, a new model for supporting local art is providing some hope.
Minng recently launched a mobile and online local business networking platform developed to facilitate cross-promotions. Karen and Stephen Sugarman, owners of Gallery 13, are leading the Minneapolis visual arts community in an effort to fully leverage the benefits of the platform to support local art.
At the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show, which starts on February 29 and ends on March 4, Gallery 13 will be showcasing local art for five days. Visitors at the "Art for the Home - Minnesota Grown" exhibit will notice quick response barcodes, also known as QR codes, next to the art labels. Minng’s mobile app, available for iPhone and Android, allows art enthusiasts to scan the QR codes of local artists in order to electronically clip coupons from local businesses in their Minng alliance. When the coupons are redeemed, a fraction of discount value is paid to the local artist.
“People walk into our gallery to appreciate good art, but many are simply browsing,” said Stephen Sugarman. “Having Minng QR Codes that are unique to each artist and their work, we're able to do four things all at the same time. With Minng, we are able to give local discounts to art enthusiasts, generate traffic for local businesses, help sustain an alternative and experimental art space, and provide commissions for local artists.... We see Minng acting as a micro-funding platform for local art.”
Minng founder, Adah Ojile, an art and music enthusiast with over 10 years of IT systems development experience, came up with the new model while developing use cases for the Minng platform. “Minng is primarily a way to create a dynamic cross-promotion networking platform for small businesses. Essentially, it’s for small business owners, what LinkedIn is for corporate professionals,” said Ojile. “But what equally gets me excited about Minng is the new class of artist entrepreneurs it will create. QR codes attached to pieces of art could potentially earn an artist contributions years after it was purchased. All it takes is a smart phone scan of the QR code next to the art, and a commitment to redeem the discounts from the local businesses supporting the artist. It’s a whole new world.”
- Visit Gallery13 at 811 LaSalle Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401.
- To learn more about Minng, visit http://minng.com.
- Click here for Minneapolis Home and Garden Show highlights, including the "Art for the Home - Minnesota Grown" exhibit, co-sponsored by Gallery13 and Minng. The show will be held Feb 29 - Mar 4, 2012 at the Minneapolis Conventions Center.
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