Three Non-Art Models Offer Blueprints for Sustainable Media Art Distribution

The distribution of media art has been revolutionized by digital platforms, yet remnants of 1960s systems remain in place. While artists such as Ryan Trecartin and Rafaël Rozendaal have found success online, many continue to navigate outdated structures. Although Patreon provides income opportunities, it lacks a sense of community prestige. New initiatives like Undervolt & Co., created by Yoshi Sodeoka and Johnny Woods, mimic independent record labels by offering unlimited editions priced between $5 and $7. The Green Bay Packers, founded in the 1920s by The Hungry Five, function as a public nonprofit with over 360,000 shareholders, ensuring no single individual has control. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), developed in the mid-1980s, allows members to invest in local farms. The Chicago nonprofit Threewalls has adapted this model into Community Supported Art, which finances artist editions. Additionally, The Humble Bundle, a video game distributor, has generated over $50 million for charities such as the Electronic Freedom Foundation and American Red Cross through a name-your-price approach without digital rights management. These examples underscore the shortcomings of traditional media art institutions and suggest alternative distribution methods outside mainstream avenues.