Artist from Udimore, near Rye, to be made MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours

Matthew Burrows, 49, who lives in Udimore, near Rye, is to be made an MBE for services to the arts during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The Cabinet Office said the list, which was due to be published in June, was postponed in order to consider nominations for people playing crucial roles during the first months of the Covid-19 effort. 

It was published on Friday (October 9).

The response to the coronavirus pandemic and the impact on independent makers and artists, spurred painter Matthew to launch the #ArtistSupportPledge in March. 

The Cabinet Office said Matthew’s self-sustaining lifeline helped cash-strapped fellow artists across the world to make some money during lockdown by selling their work online.

Speaking of the news of his MBE, Matthew said: “I was quite surprised when I found out. I’d also heard I’d won the Tech4Good Arts & Culture award, so it was a bit of a rollercoaster week for me. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

He added the recognition was for the community as well, which has used his scheme.

The Tech4Good Awards recognise organisations and individuals who use digital technology to improve the lives of others.

Under Matthew’s scheme, artists are invited to post pictures of their works for sale for £200 or less on Instagram using the hashtag #ArtistSupportPledge.

Every time an artist makes £1,000 in sales they then pledge to plough back £200 on purchasing the work of another artist using the hashtag. There are no enforcements, it is a system based on trust.

Matthew said: “What this does is create a mechanism for artists to have a living and to support the community.”

In its first week #ArtistsSupportPledge saw nearly 9,000 pledges, meaning that around £9m had been generated.

The Cabinet Office said more than 400,000 posts have been made, which has now raised more than £60 million for artists. 

#ArtistsSupportPledge is also encouraging its participating artists to make donations to charities for artists around the world, under the heading of “The Gifted Keep Giving”.

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