Miranda July opens interfaith charity shop in Selfridges

Artist and filmmaker Miranda July has created an interfaith charity shop within Selfridges in response to a commission from Artangel. The store is run and staffed jointly by four religious charities chosen by the artist: Islamic Relief, Jewish charity Norwood, London Buddhist Centre and Spitalfields Crypt Trust. Products on sale are just as they would be in a regular charity shop, such as second-hand clothes, books, toys and ornaments, for the same approximate price.

Miranda is known for artworks that involve the public, from apps to performances, including website Learning to Love You More, now in the San Francisco MoMA, and Somebody, a messaging app. “For many years I’ve wanted to make a store as artwork,” says the LA-based artist, “utilising the inherently participatory conventions of commerce. When I first came to London, in my 20s, I was giddily amazed by the sheer number of charity shops, but it’s only in creating this store with Artangel that I understand what a radically unique economic model they are. The nuances of this come from my faith-based charity shop partners and from the site; Selfridges.”

According to Artangel there are 10,000 charity shops in the UK, this being a new addition, open today 31 August until 22 October 2017 on the 3rd floor at Selfridges, 400 Oxford Street, London. Proceeds will be shared equally between the four partners, who in turn will donate 2.5% of their share to another charity of their choice.