Artcards
Art You Can Hold. Art You Can Experience.
What if a song, a poem, or even an entire novel could become a miniature work of art you can collect, gift, save, and trade?
Artcards bring original visual art together with music, poetry, and storytelling in a collectible 2.5 × 3.5-inch format.
Each physical card is a work of art in its own right, offering a connection to a larger creative experience through a QR code or web link.
Artcards invite musicians, writers, poets, visual artists, and collectors to explore new possibilities for artistic collaboration and exchange.
What Is an Artcard?
An Artcard is a miniature physical artwork measuring 2.5 × 3.5 inches—the familiar size of an artist trading card.
The artwork may feature an original drawing, painting, illustration, photograph, print, or other visual design.
A QR code or web link may connect the collector to an original musical recording, written work, or spoken performance.
Artcards may be individually created originals or signed, limited editions.
The physical artwork is the collectible. The accompanying creative work adds another dimension to the experience.
Three Kinds of Artcards
Musical Artcards — Art You Can Hear
Musical Artcards combine original visual artwork with access to original music.
A card might represent a single song, an instrumental composition, an EP, or an entire album.
Musicians can create their own artwork or collaborate with painters, illustrators, photographers, and other visual artists.
Poetry Artcards — Poetry You Can Hold
Poetry Artcards combine original poetry with miniature visual art.
A card might feature a handwritten poem, an illustrated haiku, expressive typography, or a QR code connecting the collector to a longer written poem or spoken-word performance.
Poets and visual artists are invited to collaborate, creating collectible works that bring words and images together.
Story Artcards — Stories You Can Hold
Story Artcards combine original visual art with access to original short stories, novellas, and full-length novels.
A miniature card might feature an illustrated story, original cover artwork, or a visual interpretation of a literary work.
A QR code or web link can lead to the complete written story, an audiobook, an author reading, or both written and spoken versions.
Imagine an entire novel represented by a collectible work of art no larger than a playing card.
Create Your Own Artcards
Artcards are an open artistic format. Anyone is welcome to create, collect, sell, gift, and trade them independently.
There is no requirement to participate in Minnaar Money.
Creators may produce original cards or editions, establish their own values, and make their own arrangements for selling and trading.
Writers, musicians, and visual artists may work independently or collaborate with one another.
The accompanying music, poetry, or stories may be hosted on the creator's own website or another suitable service.
Creators retain their copyrights and are responsible for obtaining the necessary permissions for all artwork, writing, recordings, and linked content.
Your art. Your creativity. Your terms.
Learn How to Make Your Own Art Money
Artcards as Minnaar Money
Selected Artcards may also become Minnaar Money — Art You Can Trade.
Artist and collector Steven Minnaar invites creators to submit completed physical Artcards for consideration through Guest Artist Selections.
Steven personally selects works according to his artistic standards, choosing only artworks he would be proud to have created himself.
For each accepted Artcard you choose to exchange, you contribute the physical card and one troy ounce of .999 fine silver.
In return, you may choose any available 1 SV Minnaar Money artwork from the Catalogue, including works created by Steven Minnaar and works contributed by other Guest Artists.
Your accepted Artcard becomes a registered Minnaar, receiving:
- Permanent Catalogue Recognition: A lasting record of the artwork, its original creators, and their contributions.
- Digital Certificate of Authenticity: Documentation identifying the registered physical artwork.
- Sovereign Value of 1 SV: An assigned exchange value within the Minnaar Money system.
- Lasting Exchange Privileges: Eligibility to exchange the registered artwork for other available Minnaars under the established Catalogue rules.
Each physical card is registered individually. Other copies of the same edition do not automatically become Minnaar Money.
Submission is free. Artwork and silver are required only after selection, if you decide to proceed.
For Minnaar Money consideration, Artcards must measure exactly 2.5 × 3.5 inches, be physical artworks on paper or card stock, and be originals or signed limited editions. Accepted cards must be delivered in clear protective sleeves.
Submit Your Artcards for Consideration
Meet Artists, Musicians, Poets & Writers
Artcards create opportunities for creative people to work together.
A novelist might commission a painter to illustrate a Story Artcard. A poet might collaborate with a photographer. A musician might trade an original recording for artwork.
Find collaborators through the free Minnaar Trading Post, or meet fellow creators at our weekly Minnaar Money Meetups in Dana Point, California.
Create Art. Share Art. Trade Art.
Whether you make music, write poetry, tell stories, create visual art, or simply enjoy collecting original work, Artcards offer a new way to participate.
Create your own. Collaborate with another artist. Build a collection. Trade for something new.
Artcards — Art You Can Hold. Art You Can Experience.
Artcards are an open collectible-art format. Only individual physical cards personally selected and registered in the Minnaar Catalogue become Minnaar Money. Sovereign Value is an artistic exchange designation, not a guarantee of conventional market value or redemption for cash or silver.