Artifacts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the vibrant history of avant-garde, queer, and underground movements through long-form, in-depth interviews with the artists, thinkers, and revolutionaries who shaped them.
Artifacts houses over 40 years of archival footage, featuring rare, firsthand accounts from pioneers such as Marsha P. Johnson, John Cale, Quentin Crisp, Betsey Johnson, and many others. By presenting these invaluable narratives, Artifacts ensures that these voices remain relevant and accessible for future generations.
Artifacts’ online platform, www.artifacts.movie, offers free, unlimited access to its extensive collection of video interviews and multimedia content without any paywall or subscription. This commitment underscores our belief in open access to cultural history, fostering a wider understanding of the artists and movements that have shaped modern art, performance, and culture. Through our work, we strive to engage a global audience, connecting them to pivotal stories of queer liberation, the underground press, and radical performance art.
Mission
Artifacts is committed to preserving and sharing the legacies of avant-garde, queer, and underground cultural movements through accessible, firsthand narratives.
Vision
Artifacts envisions a world where the stories of those who broke barriers and redefined art, culture, and society are preserved and shared openly, sparking inspiration and understanding for generations to come.
Values
Artifacts values preservation, accessibility, diversity, authenticity, and inspiration.
Preservation
Artifacts is dedicated to safeguarding the voices and stories that have influenced modern culture, ensuring that pivotal moments and the people who created them are not lost to time.
Accessibility
We are committed to providing free, unrestricted access to our content so that everyone, regardless of background, can learn about the history of avant-garde and underground movements.
Diversity
Artifacts celebrates diverse voices and perspectives, showcasing stories from a range of backgrounds, identities, and communities that have historically been overlooked or marginalized.
Authenticity
Our work honors the original context and spirit of the narratives we share, preserving their raw, unfiltered truth.
Inspiration
We aim to inspire curiosity and creativity by connecting new generations with the bold and fearless innovators of the past.
History
Artifacts was founded by Steven Watson, a cultural historian renowned for his documentation of artistic and cultural movements in the 20th century. Watson’s vision for Artifacts was born out of a lifelong dedication to capturing the stories of artists, thinkers, and cultural disruptors. Over more than 40 years, Watson compiled a unique archive of interviews and footage, representing some of the most groundbreaking moments in modern cultural history.
The genesis of Artifacts began in 1981 with the publication of Artifacts at the End of a Decade, a landmark project conceived by Watson and Carol Venezia. This boxed multiple featured the work of 44 artists from New York City’s 1970s avant-garde scene. Artifacts at the End of a Decade has been celebrated as an unprecedented artistic archive and is part of the permanent collections of esteemed institutions like MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and the Tate Modern.
Developed in conjunction with filmmaker and creative director William Markarian-Martin, Artifacts’ online platform, www.artifacts.movie, launched to bring these stories to a broader audience, preserving them digitally and ensuring they are available to all. This approach reflects Artifacts’ commitment to accessibility, allowing the legacy of avant-garde and underground movements to be explored and understood in new and meaningful ways.
Opportunities
Artifacts is always open to collaboration and engagement with those who share our passion for preserving and sharing cultural history. If you are interested in collaborating, pitching interviews, or providing feedback, please reach out to us at will@artifacts.movie. For press inquiries, please contact Mohamed Alladin at Company Agenda: mohamed@companyagenda.com. We look forward to connecting with individuals and organizations that are committed to celebrating and sustaining the stories of the avant-garde, queer, and underground movements.