Art is like coffee, or really anything that is vital or adds pleasure to our lives.  Care must be taken to sustain it, so future generations can benefit from it, just as we do today.

This thought guides illy’s involvement with young artists and writers, for whom illy is committed to providing meaningful exposure and other support.  For one, illy directly engages bright new lights in literature and commentary to write for illystories and illywords, magazines geared towardsthose with a passion for culture and ideas.   

illy enlists young artists for contributions to high-profile international art events such as Frieze Art Fair in London and the Armory Show in New York.  Both on its own and in collaboration with major shows, illy has created special awards for young artists, The illy Prize for ARCO (Madrid), at Art Rotterdam, and at the Present Future area of Artissima in Turin among others..

Winners gain immediate visibility and opportunities to experiment and grow through scholarships, cash prizes, exposure in publications, and involvement in projects like illy Art Collection.

Living in all these initiatives is the entrepreneurial spirit that is characterizes illy’s culture: seek out the new and the beautiful, and find ways for the world experience it.