Variable West is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a $45,000 grant from Critical Minded, a collaborative fund dedicated to supporting cultural critics of color. This funding will strengthen Variable West’s mission to make contemporary art criticism more accessible, inclusive, and equitable, ensuring that underrepresented voices in the arts receive the recognition and engagement they deserve.
This marks the fifth year Critical Minded has invested in Variable West’s program with over $140,000 in funding since 2020.
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“We are incredibly grateful to Critical Minded for their continued support of our vision,” said Amelia Rina, Founder and Editor in Chief of Variable West. “This grant will allow us to expand our editorial initiatives, foster meaningful conversations about contemporary art, and strengthen our commitment to amplifying diverse perspectives in the arts.”
“For nearly five years, Variable West has prioritized equity in arts writing. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far with a scrappy, two-person, part-time team and are looking forward to a thriving future,” continued Amelia Rina. “I’m especially proud that we’ve paid writers since day one and have mentored four emerging editors of color since 2020. These important programs illustrate our ethics and manifest the world we want to live in.”
The grant will support Variable West’s efforts to:
- Continue publishing arts writing by and about historically marginalized people.
- Expand coverage of contemporary art in California, Oregon, and Washington.
- Enhance editorial programs that cultivate emerging arts writers.
- Develop innovative strategies for engaging new audiences with arts journalism.
“With Critical Minded funding, Variable West can continue to carve space for writers and artists experimenting with their practices; publishing criticism and art writing that is future oriented,” said Associate Editor Ella Ray. “I’m looking forward to building relationships across the West Coast and rightfully providing needed coverage of this deeply fruitful artistic landscape.”
Since its founding, Variable West has been dedicated to reimagining arts criticism as an inclusive and community-driven practice. The platform has provided a space for fresh perspectives, bringing critical attention to artists, writers, and creative practitioners often overlooked by mainstream media.
“Critical Minded is honored to be able to once again support the work of Variable West as it continues to create space for arts writers covering the rich and diverse cultural landscape of the West Coast,” said rashid shabazz, executive director of Critical Minded. “Publications like Variable West are needed more than ever as traditional media outlets and publications continue to reduce their cultural reporting and cut arts writers from newsrooms across the country.”
Founded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and Ford Foundation, Critical Minded launched with a national convening of critics in 2017. It emerged from the belief that engaging critically with the ideas and images that surround us is a prerequisite for transforming our cultural landscape and preserving democracy.
With this new funding, Variable West is poised to expand its reach and deepen its impact in 2025. Variable West invites readers, artists, and supporters to stay engaged through its website, free weekly newsletter, Instagram, and Substack. Sign up for a tax-deductible monthly subscription or make a one-time donation on our Subscribe page.
The team at Variable West loves transparency, which is why they break down their operating budget each year. Check out the 2025 budget here.
About Variable West
Variable West is a nonprofit, independent arts publication dedicated to creating fearless, rigorous, and accessible writing about West Coast art. Variable West supports and empowers the West Coast art world by nurturing regional communities and international conversations. Learn more at variablewest.com.