More than 200 Iranian artists join global relief initiative

Continuum: Artist Relief for Iran is bringing more than 500 original works from over 200 artists and galleries across Iran into an international sales and visibility push. The nonprofit initiative, launched after the recent conflict in Iran, aims to direct all artwork proceeds to artists and expand their access to global audiences.

Why it matters: - Continuum is designed to keep artists inside Iran visible, connected and financially supported during a period of conflict and disruption. - Participating galleries across Iran have waived commissions, so 100% of artwork sale proceeds go to the artists. - The initiative aims to broaden long-term international visibility for contemporary Iranian art.

What happened: - Continuum: Artist Relief for Iran, presented by Duran Art Projects, brought together more than 500 original artworks from over 200 emerging and established contemporary artists living and working across Iran. - The initiative was conceived in direct response to the recent conflict affecting Iran. - The project was developed over five months by curators working inside Iran. - Galleries, institutions, curators and cultural partners across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany and India joined the effort.

The details: - Participating galleries across Iran voluntarily waived their commissions. - The structure is meant to work with existing artistic relationships, not bypass them. - Continuum is positioned as support for Iran’s cultural ecosystem as well as the artists themselves. - The initiative presents contemporary artistic practice inside Iran today rather than framing the project as an exhibition about conflict. - The artwork selection spans multiple approaches, generations and artistic voices. - Many participating artists have had limited access to international audiences. - Artworks are offered across accessible price points to encourage direct support from international buyers and collectors. - The initiative is intended to create new connections with audiences, collections, institutions and future opportunities. - The effort also seeks to challenge narrow views of contemporary Iranian art by showing its breadth and diversity.

Between the lines: - Continuum is as much a visibility project as a fundraising one. - The initiative reflects a strategy of cultural continuity: keep the local ecosystem intact while extending its reach abroad. - The collaboration model suggests Iranian galleries and curators are central to how the project is being presented, rather than being displaced by outside intermediaries. - Dario Duran said the project began with a simple question about how the arts community could support artists whose livelihoods were disrupted by conflict. - Senior Curator Mariam Rasti said the collaboration shows what becomes possible when an artistic community chooses collaboration over isolation.

What's next: - Continuum will use international exposure to try to build longer-term opportunities for participating artists. - The project is expected to connect artists with new audiences, collectors and institutions. - More information is available through Duran Art Projects' social media channel.

The bottom line: - Continuum turns a crisis response into a cross-border platform for sales, visibility and long-term support for contemporary Iranian artists.