Have you ever considered creating your own money?

That’s what a Danish artist, Lars Kraemmer, did back in 1997. His studio was booming with dusty art, his wallet was empty, he didn’t have enough money to pay his bills and no promise of an income in sight. How to make ends meet? That became the starting point of art-money and BIAM, short for Bank of International Art-Money.

The conditions are simple: You apply to become a participating artist of BIAM, and when registered you start creating your own currency according to some general guidelines on size, conduct, etc. using whatever technique and media you usually prefer.

What you actually create with each art-money is a small piece of original artwork that represents a purchasing value equal to 27 euro / 34 US$ / 200 Danish Kroner. You can use Art-Money in shops and businesses all over the world, and when buying art from registered art money artists.

The idea maybe started as a bit of a practical joke and a critical comment on economical politics, but as it turned out this underground art project was taken quite seriously and art money became a reality. Today the art money network is rapidly growing world wide and the project is noticed with great interest by cultural institutions and the Media.

These days Lars Kraemmer, has been invited to speak as an expert at a conference on art and culture celebrating the 50th anniversary of the EU. Meanwhile there’ll be two exhibitions in Brussels: The first one is simply a “show off” representing 300 artists with one art money each from the BIAM collection, the second exhibition is by invitation only from the Danish Cultural Institute, and will represent 30 artists each with 20 art monies for show and for sale.

I’ve been part of this project for 3 years now and it has been so much fun and a challenge to develop my art and step forward. Maybe you´d like to join? Check it out at: art money and join the revolution!