A new start up called Ad Astra has launched, becoming the UK’s first non-fungible token (NFT) agency that specialises in connecting artists, art collectors and galleries with end-to-end NFT services.
The company intends to break down the entry barriers for many artists who have the desire, but not the resources, to create and sell innovative NFTs that fully utilise the potential of the medium.
Ad Astra’s full suite of services includes providing education, creative direction, digital artistry, minting services, legal contracts, and marketing and sales. Each offering is bespoke to the individual clients’ specific circumstances under a commission-based, one contract model with no upfront costs.
Unlike the many NFT marketplaces around, Ad Astra is not a platform, and works with their clients to sell their NFTs through the method that best supports the artworks, whether that’s an auction house or through an art dealer and specialised marketplaces.
Every account is serviced by a multi-generational team that has years of experience with both web3 and the traditional art world. This includes Emily Wigoder, Ad Astra’s CEO and founder, who has a rich background in art publishing, web3 and NFTs. Also on the senior leadership team and advisory board is Simon Davenport QC, a top commercial silk and trustee of the Contemporary Arts Society, Ray Kelvin, the former founder and CEO of Ted Baker, and Philip Hoffman, the founder of The Fine Art Group.
The company is about to open its seed funding round, and long-term, it has plans to expand internationally, becoming the go-to agency to connect the traditional art world with the NFT space.
Emily Wigoder, CEO and founder of Ad Astra, comments:
“The possibilities of the NFT world are endless, and yet, many artists, galleries and traditional art collectors are holding back from entering this space. Upon investigation, we found that the costs, complications and perceived risks with the NFT space were stopping initially interested artists and art enthusiasts from benefitting from the many opportunities that are available.
“This is exactly why we created Ad Astra – a turn-key NFT creation agency that has a passion for both traditional art and NFTs, and believes that the art world and its artists belong in the art and technology of the future.
“We hope to facilitate the dismantling of these boundaries to allow traditional artists and galleries to flourish in web3 and create NFTs that hold long-term value.”