The plate was the specific form of crockery chosen, as a representation of comfort, nourishment and the home | Photo source Coalition for the Homeless / Copyright Lawrence Weiner

Innovation > Nonprofit & Social Cause > Artists design plate collection for the homeless

ARTISTS DESIGN PLATE COLLECTION FOR THE HOMELESS NONPROFIT & SOCIAL CAUSE

A range of artists have collaborated to design limited-edition plates for the Coalition for the Homeless charity, based in New York City

Spotted: The Artist Plate Project consists of 50 artists putting together designs for a series of dinner plates, which will be sold to raise money for both homeless New Yorkers and those facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The charity launched the initiative after the Artwalk NY annual gala and auction was cancelled due to the pandemic, as a way to keep on raising funds for the vulnerable at such a time.

The plate was the specific form of crockery chosen, as a representation of comfort, nourishment and the home. Artists involved include Ed Ruscha, Jenny Holzer, Rashid Johnson, Lawrence Weiner, Sarah Sze, and Adam Pendleton, and the plates are made up of both new and repurposed designs. One notable design includes the words ‘negro sunshine’, taken from Melanctha, a novella from Gertrude Stein’s 1909 collection, Three Lives.

America’s oldest advocacy and direct service organisation for the homeless, Coalition for the Homeless, have been fighting to protect these vulnerable members of society who might otherwise have been overlooked due to the pandemic, with medical attention, shelter, warmth and food, especially during the winter months.

The charity have declared that each plate could feed 75 homeless people, and therefore each plate design is one of 175, to be bought at $175 (€145). The range will be available until the 15th December 2020.

Written By: Holly Hamilton Explore more: Nonprofit & Social Cause Innovations | Architecture & Design Innovations

10th December 2020 Email: [email protected] Website: coalitionforthehomeless.org

Takeaway:

In some countries, rules against leaving the house for anything other than "essential" journeys has vastly affected how much help charities can give to the homeless in-person. With many potential sources of funding unavailable this year, as fund-raising events are cancelled and people become warier of spending money, charities have had to become creative in their efforts to help, and The Artist Plate Project may prove to be a fun and innovative way to keep the resources flowing.