Kickstarter & SCOPE Bring Cultural Conversations to Art Basel Miami

During Art Basel Miami Beach, Kickstarter partnered with SCOPE Art Show for two days of conversations exploring how artists fund, sustain, and innovate their creative work. The gathering highlighted some of the most influential voices shaping culture across visual art, music, and creative entrepreneurship.

The program opened with “Power to the Creators – Rethinking How Art Gets Funded,” a discussion examining crowdfunding, patronage, and community-backed models as emerging paths for artistic independence. Speakers included Miami-based curators Rosie Gordon-Wallace and Veronica Pesantes, alongside artists Beatriz Chachamovits and acclaimed creator Hebru Brantley.

Another panel, “The Art of Sound – Where Music Meets Canvas,” brought together producer duo Cool and Dre, music executive Steve Lobel, and artist-musician Cristy Road Carrera, reflecting on how sound, visuals, and storytelling continue to influence each other.

Day two continued with a fireside conversation between Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor and ARTNOIR cofounder Larry Ossei-Mensah examining the shifting role of platforms, patrons, and cultural leadership. The closing panel, “The Art of Community,” focused on how grassroots networks and digital ecosystems are shaping a more sustainable creative future.

Across each discussion, one theme was clear: collaboration, alternative funding models, and community-centered infrastructure are becoming essential to the success of contemporary artists.

Kickstarter wrapped the weekend with its annual event at The Standard, featuring music by DJ Dylan Ali and a performance by Miami artist Muzelle.

photo credits_ @nathassan