The Autry Museum announced its American Indian Arts Marketplace will be transformed into a virtual experience due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The American Indian Arts Marketplace is the largest Native American arts fair in Southern California and features 200 artists from more than 40 Native nations. “While we fully acknowledge that nothing can replicate being at Marketplace weekend in-person, we are confident that the Autry Marketplace Online will be a rich, engaging digital opportunity that will allow thousands of additional visitors to participate, regardless of where they live,” wrote Richard West, president and CEO of the Autry, in a letter announcing the decision.

West  acknowledged the economic hardships for artists and the importance of selling as much art as possible at fair and living-wage prices. As the son of a Native artist, West and Autry staff are making it a priority in determining the best platforms to promote and facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers.

“I also want to assure our donors that their contributions will be recognized and in as many ways as possible in order to acknowledge and horror their continuing generosity,” West wrote in his letter. “Without you we could not produce any sort of Marketplace, period.”

For information, visit the autry.org.