A New Print Sale Benefits COVID-19 Relief in India

India is currently experiencing a sweep of lockdowns as a second wave of COVID-19 affects the country. Many hospitals are continuing to hit their capacities and are experiencing shortages of critical materials like oxygen tanks and PPE. In the face of the crisis, there are many resources and ways to help India right now, including a new print sale from Hope4India. One-hundred percent of proceeds from this art-focused project will go towards COVID-19 relief in the country.

Launched yesterday, the print sale is run by Citta, a nonprofit organization that is raising funds to purchase and distribute oxygen tanks, PPE supplies, and more to both urban and rural communities in India. To do so, Citta plans to work with four Indian organizations, including the Save Life Foundation, Give India Foundation, AAPI for Medical Oxygen to India, and Zomato Feeding India. The nonprofit’s founder Michael Daube joined forces with filmmaker Shruti Ganguly and Paper editor Mickey Boardman to bring the fundraiser to fruition.

A print from Alia RomagnoliPhoto: Courtesy of Hope4India

American and Southeast Asian artists donated prints for the sale, including David Byrne, Cass Bird, Jack Pierson, Paige Powell, Riddhibrata Burman, Sumaiya Sayed, and more. Each of the donated prints are unframed, sized at 8.5 by 11 inches, and cost $150. All of the images celebrate facets of Indian culture and represent hope in some way—whether it’s striking portraits of individuals or scenic landscape shots taken in the country. A photograph from Susan Meiselas, for instance, depicts a woman waiting outside of a delivery room in Dewa, India, wearing an ornate sari. Another print from Vinay Panjwani highlights the beautiful architecture found at the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl’s School in Salkha, India.

A print from Romain SellierPhoto: Courtesy of Hope4India

Hope4India hopes to raise $200,000 for the cause through the sale. For context, $35,000 can reportedly set up an oxygen plant that produces 60 to 70 oxygen cylinders a day. “During these dark times, everyday citizens in India are coming together to protect each other and their communities. Here is the silver lining, the hope,” said Ganguly. “This is what we plan to highlight with this initiative: images of hope inspired by India, while raising money for necessary COVID-relief work. We believe in the power of art and photography to bring people together.”

You can shop the print sale here.