Ignite Change through BIG ART this Giving Tuesday

This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to be part of something transformative. At COVEN, we believe monumental art is a bridge to societal change, sparking dialogue, connection, and revitalization in our backyard. Yet, too often, the voices that have the most powerful stories to share are sidelined—lacking the ecosystem of support they need to realize their vision of tomorrow.

In a time of geopolitical strife and fast-paced technological change, it is more important than ever to serve and protect artists historically excluded from access to capital, space, and opportunity. COVEN was launched as a creative placemaking nonprofit accelerator for creators, doers, and backers to amplify sidelined voices through the BIG art that transcends boundaries and inspires the world.

What We’re Up To

• Vertical Camp Incubator: Since 2011, our original Third Place at Burning Man has provided infrastructure for emerging artists to experiment with building big. 2024 saw 30 campers working together to construct a 7-story liveable tower and activate community around 2 art pieces by Erin Douglas and Greg Holmes.

• Third Place Community Hubs: COVEN focuses on strengthening vital Third Places that provide affordable shared workspace and resources for industrial artists. This summer,  we co-hosted a fundraiser to saveThe Box Shop, SF’s last industrial art makerspace–over 300 attended the showcase of 16 local female and LGBTQIA+ artists. We’re collaborating with Point San Pablo Harbor to shape a future vision sustainably supporting community, conservation, and big art.

• Rotating Art Platforms (RAP): Over 6 million visitors were inspired this past year by Charlie Gadeken’s Elder Mother Tree in Golden Gate Park, now in Las Vegas. With the aim of urban revitalization and socioeconomic mobility for emerging artists, we’re collaborating with Illuminate SF, One Hat One Hand, Five Ton Crane, andBuilding 180 to build permanent platforms with rotating, temporary large-scale art in public spaces. We applied for an arts foundation grant to go towards the first RAP installation featuring Zulu Heru’s Farmer the Rigger.

• Capacity-building Programs: Earlier this spring, we delivered online workshops on crowdfunding for over 40 artists and hosted a salon fundraiser for 3 of our artists earlier this year. We are designing our groundbreaking Artist-in-Residency Program with our First Team volunteers, curating a diverse Selection Committee, and building out an ecosystem of Third Place hubs to launch in 2025.

Join Us in Raising $250,000 by December 3rd

Your support will help COVEN and our ecosystem to amplify sidelined voices, activate Third Places, and ensure that monumental art thrives for future generations.

Here’s how you can contribute:

• Make a one-time tax-deductible donation
• Become a monthly donor to sustain our mission year-round
• Provide a grant from your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) or private foundation
• Reach out to hello@coven.art to explore ways to get involved

COVEN is a California Public Benefit Non-profit Corporation (EIN: 93-4043245) based in San Francisco, CA, and is fiscally sponsored by the public 501c charity Legacy Global Programs (EIN: 20-8099462), the Trustee and authorized signer of The Synecdoche Trust which holds the subaccount for charitable funds on behalf of COVEN. Tax receipts will be automatically sent upon donation and you will receive a year-end report of your contributions from COVEN. 

Every voice matters. Every gift counts. Every dollar builds a bridge. Thank you for believing in the power of art to transform lives. 

Warmly, 

Jen, Ariel, Bonnie & Alita