Artist Support Pledge
Last updated: 19 October 2026
Artist Support Pledge is a way to buy original art directly from the artists and makers who made it, for £220 or less plus postage. Artists post their work on Instagram with the #artistsupportpledge tag, and you message them to buy. Every time an artist sells £1,100 of work, they pledge to spend £220 on another artist's work, so part of your money keeps moving around the community.
What Artist Support Pledge is
The artist Matthew Burrows set up Artist Support Pledge on 16 March 2020, in response to the Covid pandemic. It is now run as a not-for-profit company, and it has grown into a worldwide community of artists and makers.
By August 2020, Burrows told The Art Newspaper that 371,000 posts carried the hashtag. He estimated the sales at £60m, though that figure is his own.
How buying works
- Find the work: open @artistsupportpledge on Instagram and tap the tagged posts, or search the #artistsupportpledge hashtag.
- Ask the artist: message the artist directly to check the piece is still available.
- Pay the artist: you agree payment with them. The pledge takes no cut and uses no middleman.
- Sort the postage: delivery is arranged with the artist too, and it is on top of the price.
Key facts
- Price cap: £220 or less per piece, plus postage
- The pledge: every £1,100 an artist sells, they spend £220 on another artist's work
- Founded: 16 March 2020 by the artist Matthew Burrows
- Where: Instagram, using the #artistsupportpledge tag
- Who runs it: a not-for-profit company, number 12613409
- Fees: none to the pledge; you pay the artist
Who it suits
- Gift buyers who want an original: £220 or less buys a painting, print, ceramic or textile made by one person.
- People starting an art collection: the price cap keeps it affordable, and you deal with the artist directly.
- Anyone who wants their money to reach the artist: there is no gallery or platform taking a share.
If you would rather buy from a shop with a returns policy, our guide to affordable art in the UK covers prints and originals from gallery shops and print publishers.
The limits of Artist Support Pledge
You buy from individuals, not a shop. So there is no checkout, no standard returns policy and no buyer protection beyond how you choose to pay. Ask the artist about postage, returns and framing before you send any money.
You also need Instagram to browse it. Without an account, the tag is much harder to look through.
Finally, anyone can join without permission. Nobody selects the work, so it is up to you to judge each piece and each artist.
Where to buy in the UK
Every piece is sold by the artist, wherever they live. The pledge's own guide for buyers sets out the steps. If the artist is abroad, ask about customs charges before you pay.
See the #artistsupportpledge tag
FAQs
How much does Artist Support Pledge art cost?
Each piece costs £220 or less, plus postage. I checked the price cap on the pledge's website on 19 October 2026.
How do I buy from Artist Support Pledge?
Find a piece under the #artistsupportpledge tag on Instagram, message the artist, then pay and arrange delivery with them.
Does Artist Support Pledge take a commission?
No. You pay the artist directly, and the pledge does not use third parties.
Who started Artist Support Pledge?
The artist Matthew Burrows, on 16 March 2020, during the first Covid lockdown.
Can I return art bought through Artist Support Pledge?
That depends on the artist, because each sale is between you and them. Agree it before you pay.
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Image from https://artistsupportpledge.com/
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