ARTIST PENSION TRUST

The Artist Pension Trust (APT) is the first retirement trust program created specifically to provide emerging and mid-career visual artists with long-term financial security. Drawing on the traditional structure of mutual assurance societies, a limited series of APTs comprised of 250 artists each will be formed in cities and regions throughout the US.



Each APT is a non-profit, self-governing entity whose purpose is to provide participating artists with pension benefits. Artist Pension Trust will always seek to carefully balance the long-term career goals of participating artists with professional financial management concerns.



A region-specific selection committee comprised of individuals who are broadly experienced in working with emerging artists will identify artists to be invited to apply for participation in a Trust. The committee will review each applicant's work and select those who will participate in a Trust. Only self-employed artists may participate inAPT.



APT is a barter-based program. Rather than cash, participants will contribute works of art to their Trust, investing 20 works over a 20-year period. Artists will start to receive income 20 years after the inception of their APT.



The New York APT is the first one, but perhaps artists here in Rhode Island can look to starting our own? And if only we could figure out how to make this work for writers and performing artists....



For more information, or to apply for the New York APT, visit the website: http://www.artistpensiontrust.org