A quiet revolution is under way in the art world. One that few expected and most missed. Because it’s on the Web; called b-uncut.
It was started in 2007 by a group of contemporary artists, led by Philip Letts, as a new kind of collective. One without borders. One bound by the Web. They’re vision was simple. To use the digital world to reinvent the concept of artist collective and shift power to the 21st Century artist. So giving them greater indepenedence. They figured that if they could persuade enough artists to support this movement then, one day, the art world could become a bit less dealer centric. And a lot more open.
They reasoned that the dynamics of the 21st Century should fashion an artist centric ecosystem. Even a new kind of art market, one driven by the artists themselves. A place where meritocracy reigns and FAIRTRADE exists. Where artists can earn a living, if they are talented, from their art, not barista skills nurtured at the local Starbucks.
Wind forward to today and the revolution is well under way. Nearly 1,500 talented, emerging artists from all over the world have joined b-uncut. They work and hang in its virtual studios – where the rent is free and access is open (so long as they are real artists and supporters of the movement). Within these virtual studio walls they create and share paintings, sculpture, graffiti, photographs, videos, poems, writings and more. They’re styles cover conceptual art, abstract art, surrealism, pop, street, realism, pointillism, performance, photography, video and much, much more. They have produced and loaded nearly 25,000 artworks at b-uncut’s studios in just 2 years!
They upload finished works and works in progress. They share their notes, sketches and musings. The 1,500 studios rock! The artists are alive. They critique each other and have produced an invaluable peer review and rating system – something that artists have lacked since the beginning of time. They huddle in specialist groups and learn online. They teach one other, promote each other and look out for each other. Today over 100 new artists join b-uncut every month. It’s growing – they’re good and the place buzzes.
Together these extraordinary artists decided to go one step further. Six months ago they built their very own art marketplace. First they constructed a Web based Gallery – the b-uncut Gallery. It already hosts around 60 of the more commercially minded artists and takes the concept of Web gallery to a whole new dimension. Walk into its 3D like gallery rooms and queue up for openings. Visit their cutting edge, stunningly curated digital exhibitions. On the way out drop by the museum store. Entry is free for everyone, 24 hours a day. You just need Internet access and a smartphone, PC, laptop or library. Next time you want to go to a contemporary art show do it from your arm chair.
If you like what you see you can buy some of their art at the gallery or direct from the artists using b-uncut’s revolutionary artist commissioning system. You rest assured that the artists pocket more of the receipts which allows them, in turn, to plow your funds into art supplies, art books and future artworks. I don’t know about you but if I decided to invest in a specific artist and their works I would want to know that they, not middlemen, took the majority of my money and continued to develop their art for my future pleasure.
And you get better prices which is why art buyers and lovers are starting to flock to the b-uncut Galleries and Store in their thousands. They’re buying.
Anyone can visit the artists studios, but, membership is reserved for the artists. They’re privacy is important. You can observe and watch them work, share and learn. But, shhhh, they’re creating. You can also read their blogs, notices, listen to their favorite tunes and watch their videos. You can find out about shows they will be in and go meet them in the flesh. Each month 25,000 art lovers come by b-uncut’s studios to watch the artists work and hang out.
You can read b-uncut’s art magazine and blog. Leading Museums, galleries and critics do. You get the real time, real world, unfiltered news and reviews from the emerging art world. Uncut: b-uncut. Check interviews with artists, exhibition reviews, street snaps, opinion pieces and more.
So you see a new art revolution is afoot. Who said the Web wouldn’t change art. It already has. More than you can ever imagine.
Sparxoo, a US research firm focused on innovation and digital strategy, wrote a cool article yesterday on ‘Building the Crowd.’ 
The western world is still in crisis. Following the financial tsunami of 2008/9 the West faces another emergency. As the dust settles on the economic meltdown it is becoming clear that not only did we strangle our recent start-ups, but there is no capital around for the new ones. Banks are still not lending to new businesses and Venture Capital firms are focusing on later stage investments. There is almost no institutional, early stage, risk capital available but the world needs start-ups now more than ever.
The past few years have seen huge changes in the television, music, advertising and marketing industries. At blur Media we asked ourselves “How will the publishing and writing industries be affected by all these changes? And what new challenges will be created?”
Tina Brown, over at The Daily Beast, wrote a powerful if somewhat negative article last year about 
Sparxoo, a cool US social media blog, published an interview today with Phil at blur Group on 
