On episode 255 of The Art Biz, they share the origin story that captures their philosophy perfectly: a power outage hit their first apartment art show in 2019. Instead of canceling, they brought in generators and contractor lights. When the lights go out, you figure it out and keep going.
Even when money was tight, they made strategic investments. Daniel spent $800 on track lighting and prioritized marketing dollars for postcards and Facebook ads. That commitment to quality and visibility set them apart immediately.
Their funding model is impressively diverse: monthly donors, state grants, foundation support, art sales, and unexpected contracts like a $170,000 vaccine equity project. That last one required fronting expenses on personal credit cards while waiting months for state reimbursement—scary, but necessary for growth.
Pay attention to how Lights Out works with galleries and institutions as collaborators, not competitors. As Daniel says, “It’s an ecosystem, and when we work together, it’s a lot more effective.”
For artists wanting to support—and find support from—organizations in their communities, the answer is simple: show up, engage, and if you can, donate.