Not/For the Money

Description 

NOT/FOR the MONEY is a group exhibition that highlights works by artists and cultural workers that examines themes related to money, capital, and value. 

Money is a very urgent issue for many artists. An aspect of this issue is the general public’s inability to value the arts and cultural workers’ vital role and impact within any community. There is a lack of understanding in the way cultural workers survive and build meaningful lives, often with a minimum of resources. The issue of money, the impact of economic disparity, and insecurity dominates many of our lives. Without a stable income, most people struggle to afford basic necessities that are required for quality of life. 

The theme of money is addressed frequently within the art world, but usually it is in the context of the art “market,” commercial auctions, and wealthy collectors. Many artists work to imagine and engender new relationships, value systems, and ways of being. As journalist Eric Reguly wrote in The Globe and Mail business section, “You don’t necessarily need buckets of money to succeed. Sometimes imagination and the courage to break rules can do the trick.” 

About the Publisher 

Embassy Cultural House was founded in 1983 by artists Jamelie Hassan, Ron Bennett and jazz musician Eric Stach. It was located in the restaurant portion of the Embassy Hotel at 732 Dundas Street in East London. In 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Embassy Cultural House was re-envisioned as an online collective and arts community by Tariq Hassan Gordon. The virtual and in-person programming is a collaborative effort by contributors, editors, partners and volunteers to celebrate the art community in London, Ontario—its past and present, and its many connections across Canada and around the world. 

Artists 

Ron Benner
Karl Beveridge
Lily Cho
Matthew Dawkins
Holly English
Sohelia Esfahani
Kelly Greene
Jamelie Hassan
SF Ho
Michael Maranda
Alistair MacKinnon
Patrick Mahon
David Merritt
Mohamed Monaisser
Sheri Osden Nault
Wanda Nanibush
Shelly Niro
Claudia Sambo
Ruth Strebe
Jeff Thomas 

Organizers 

Ron Benner
Jamelie Hassan
Olivia Mossuto
Mireya Seymour 

Publisher
Embassy Cultural House 

Publication date
2026

Binding
Staple-bound 

Size
9 x 6 inches
52 pages
Edition of 500

Language
English