Beta-Local is an organization dedicated to supporting interdisciplinary art and pedagogical experimentation in San Juan, Puerto Rico. When hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the island in September of 2017, Beta Local stepped up to the challenge of organizing emergency relief and recovery efforts for the island’s independent artist community; with the support of the Warhol Foundation and other funding partners it distributed over $400,000 to artists, organizers, and cultural workers from a range of disciplines, generations and regions of the island. The effort was a real testament to Beta-Local’s commitment to its local context and to the strength and integrity of its peer network. After a brief hiatus, the organization resumed its full slate of programs, realizing that in demonstrating its own resiliency, it could lead by example – as well as provide a home base where artists could gather and continue their work.
Beta Local
“We strive to support institutions that share our artist-centered values. The small grassroots arts organizations as well as the museums that comprise our grantees provide invaluable opportunities for artists to express their unique perspectives on the pressing urgencies of the day. We hope that our grants help to amplify artists’ voices within their communities, in national discussions and debates, and across platforms in the international contemporary art world.”
Joel Wachs, President