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Crypto and Web3 entrepreneur Cordell Broadus today announced the launch of the Champ Medici Arts Fund, a $1 Million philanthropic effort in partnership with The Tezos Foundation to support emerging artists across the globe looking to build and create works on the Tezos blockchain. Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, the non-profit co-founded by visual artist Danny Simmons, music mogul Russell Simmons and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons of legendary hip hop group Run-DMC, becomes the inaugural recipient of the first Champ Medici Arts Fund grant, which will see them create and launch an upcoming piece on the Tezos blockchain.
A multi-faceted business entrepreneur and son of music icon Snoop Dogg, Cordell is widely known throughout the metaverse as his Bored Ape NFT, Champ Medici. Over the years, he has gained recognition for championing crypto currency and Web3 in its early stages, becoming one of the most influential figures at the forefront of the industry and as an avid supporter of the arts.
“I am excited to announce this partnership with The Tezos Foundation, that will bring new artists to Tezos, one of the world’s most advanced and artist friendly blockchains. I have been an advocate for blockchain technology since its early stages and believe it’s here to stay. My mission has always been to support up and coming artists and to provide access to innovative forms of artistic expression especially for minority groups. The Champ Medici Arts Fund was founded as a result of this goal. We hope this endeavor will impact artists looking to access technology for their work and look forward to building future collaborations within the Tezos ecosystem,” states Cordell Broadus aka Champ Medici.
Tezos, an energy-efficient blockchain, has garnered global acclaim as the blockchain of choice for artists and institutions looking to mint NFTs sustainably and responsibly. The Champ Medici Arts Fund will provide monetary grants for emerging artists as well as onboarding to the Tezos community, a diverse, global network of artists, collectors and creators looking to explore NFTs as a new medium for creative expression.
“The Tezos ecosystem is known for its incredible artists who are pushing the boundaries of digital art. I’m honored that Champ Medici has selected Tezos for this initiative and will be joining this flourishing community of creative talent. It’s fantastic that Rush Arts will be named as its first beneficiary. My hope is that this empowers a whole new wave of up-and-coming artists, from a diverse range of backgrounds, to start their Web3 journeys," Mason Edwards, Chief Commercial Officer of the Tezos Foundation adds.
The Tezos Foundation is a non-profit organization which deploys resources to entities and initiatives in support of the Tezos ecosystem. Recently, the Tezos Foundation established the Tezos Foundation Permanent Art Collection, a $1.2 million effort to support emerging artists from across the globe – curated by activist and mentor Misan Harriman, Chair of the Southbank Center in London. Serpentine Galleries also recently announced a multi-year partnership with the Tezos Foundation leveraging the open-source, energy efficient blockchain.
This initiative between Tezos and Champ Medici was facilitated by Gushcloud International, a global technology driven creator and media company. Gushcloud represents and manages Champ Medici’s business interests, and TZ APAC is the leading Asia-based blockchain adoption entity supporting the Tezos ecosystem. In recent times, Gushcloud has been a forefront leader in Web3, and has worked with celebrities and traditional brands to help them move successfully into the space. Althea Lim, Co Founder and Group CEO of Gushcloud International and Katherine Ng, Managing Director of TZ APAC, will also join the bench of leaders forming the fund subcommittee.
“Rush Arts has been around for nearly thirty years and we are pleased to head into a new season to support our artists with the adoption of NFTs, especially since minority urban audiences are often the last to benefit from early adoption of new technologies” said visual artist and author Danny Simmons, chairman of the board of Rush Arts.
Simmons added, “By partnering with Champ Medici, his fund and the Tezos ecosystem, we plan to onboard talented emerging Black artists and educate them on how to leverage Web3 to grow their careers.”
Co-founded in New York City in 1995, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is devoted to supporting emerging underrepresented artists with exhibition opportunities as well as providing inner city youth with significant exposure to the arts. Rush Arts founded were the sites of early career exhibitions of artists like Simone Leigh, Wangechi Mutu, Kehinde Wiley, Mickalene Thomas, Sanford Biggers, Allison Janae Hamilton and many other artists that are dominating the contemporary art scene today.
The Champ Medici Arts Fund will host an exclusive VIP event on December 3, 2022, at Art Basel Miami Beach to honor Danny Simmons and the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation for their work over the past thirty years of providing support for emerging Black artists and access to the arts for underrepresented communities
The Champ Medici Arts Fund will officially launch on January 2, 2023. The fund will begin accepting applications on December 5, 2022, at www.champmedicigroup.io/thearts*.
*This article will be updated with a link to the application page on December 5, 2022.
