What we do
Originally launched in 2023, Threads: The Art Exchange is a global vehicle for multicultural and emerging artists + creatives merging collaboration and accessibility within the art sphere.
Initially founded by Sydney Frakes and Alea Brown, Threads began as a podcast and platform highlighting artists and creatives of color. After two seasons, Frakes began expanding Threads into an artist development firm with services launching in the spring. Collaboration and community are the driving force of a burgeoning platform that seeks to create a more equitable environment in the arts. Through auditory, collaborative, and development initiatives, Threads engages with a leading group of international artists and creatives by providing a space for opportunities and tools to navigate the contemporary art landscape. With a continuous commitment to steer innovative programming, artist engagement, and visual storytelling, Threads is dedicated to shaping the next generation of artists and creatives.
Sydney Frakes
Creator + Director
Creator and Director of Threads: The Art Exchange, Sydney Frakes is a contemporary art professional dedicated to amplifying the voices of multicultural and emerging artists by creating inclusive and equitable spaces within the art sphere. Working and partnering with a leading group of international artists, Frakes uses a multidisciplinary approach to her digital nomadic and creative consulting practice in her role at Threads. Through artist development services, innovative programming, digital initiatives, and creative collaboration, Frakes’ holistic approach engages with artists on a global scale by working closely with them to execute strategic visual storytelling capturing the stories and diverse practices of each.
Prior to creating Threads, Frakes graduated with her BA in Urban Studies in 2014 and a BA in Art History in 2017 from Wayne State University. She then went on to work at a wide scale of art galleries ranging from commercial, academic, and residency art spaces gaining insightful knowledge of the contemporary art landscape.