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Arts & Communication Contemporary art from the Global South

this observation is promising for the future, the Venice FLAG, and Rubbell), two of them are national museums,
Biennale remains at the top of our list, as it exhibited the and two are mid-size contemporary art museums that
highest number of successful artists. specialize in presenting emerging work from artists who
are not well established. The Seattle Art Museum is an
However, it is worth noting that the origins of the
artists are not necessarily correlated with the locations of outlier in this context because it is an established museum
with historic collections that also presents contemporary
the biennales. For instance, at the Gwangju Biennale, our art. While six of these museums are in the US, there is
study found that the five artists exhibited at this event were also a growing number of contemporary museums in the
originally from Pakistan, the Philippines, Brazil, Kenya, and Global South that are dedicated to showcasing the work of
Cuba. This example demonstrates how biennales promote local and international artists. All of the museums in the
artists from various parts of the world, facilitating a series of top ten had exhibitions that included at least four of our
global exhibitions. Biennales have undoubtedly transformed list of fifty-one artists, but the Contemporary Art Museum,
the art world by creating opportunities for artists to showcase Houston, was the leader because it included six.
their work to a global audience, and they continue to be an
essential part of the art industry. However, some successful It was interesting to discover that the primary museums
artists, mainly from Africa, have not yet had the opportunity exhibiting Global South artists from our database are
to exhibit at a biennale but have still managed to become located in the US and Africa. We can thus make a
incorporated into the global art market. correlation between the explosion of African artists in the
global art market and exhibitions in cultural institutions,
3.2.4. Cultural institutions particularly in the US, but also locally. It has been
Museums play a key role in promoting and preserving established that art museums devoted to specific cultural
art and culture. Unlike the market, which quickly absorbs groups, such as the Studio Museum Harlem and Museo
new energies, cultural institutions can be slower to change, del Barrio, have played a role in diversifying the art world
particularly if they are collecting institutions with historical through exhibitions that featured artists who were not
collections. Other types of museums can pivot more readily succeeding in the mainstream art world, which white men
and adapt to new influences because their programs are based had long dominated. This dataset points to another range
only on temporary exhibitions (the Kunsthalle model) or of diversification connected to international artists.
because they are private museums that exhibit and develop 4. Conclusion
exhibitions from an active contemporary art collection,
which is being developed by collectors with adequate The art world has historically been dominated by Western
resources to adapt to developing market trends. The top artists and galleries. However, in recent years, there has
ten cultural institutions from our stakeholder list included been a growing interest in emerging artists from the
three museums from Africa: Zeith MOCAA in Cape Town, Global South. These artists, originating from countries in
The National Gallery of Zimbabwe, and The Iziko South Africa, Asia, and South America, have introduced a fresh
African National Gallery in Capetown. There were also six perspective to the art world and have contributed to the
museums from the US: The Contemporary Arts Museum diversification of the art market.
in Houston, The Pérez Art Museum in Miami, The Museum One of the most significant success stories from the
of the African Diaspora in San Francisco, The FLAG Art Global South in recent years is the African Diaspora. In
Foundation in New York, The Seattle Art Museum, and recent years, African Diaspora artists have experienced
The Rubell Family Collection in Miami. The last cultural a significant rise in sales and recognition, with their
institution in the top ten is the Goethe Institute, which is work appearing in major auctions and exhibitions. This
not a museum but a series of cultural centers established by recognition is the result of a concerted effort by galleries,
the German government in large cities around the world. curators, and other art world actors to promote these artists
These museums have each established themselves as leaders and provide them with the exposure they deserve. In our
in presenting contemporary art, with a focus on diverse and view, it is evident that the market has also been influenced
underrepresented voices. by a major international social movement, such as Black

While historic art museums are primarily devoted Lives Matter.
to their collection and promoting established artists, One of the challenges facing emerging artists from the
museums started by private individuals who collect Global South is the lack of infrastructure and support for
contemporary art often prioritize the showcasing of new the arts in their home countries. Many of these artists have
or emerging talent. It is important to note that four of these to migrate to neighboring countries or art hubs to find the
top ten institutions are private museums (Zeith, Perez, support and resources that they need to create and promote

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 14 https://doi.org/10.36922/ac.1608