Fundraising for Individual Artist Projects

In April of this year, I did a post about the Diastrous State Budget Cuts Proposed for the Arts (http://creativityjourney.blogspot.com/2010/04/disastrous-state-budget-cuts-proposed.html) and there were comments regarding the need for artists to find or develop alternative funding sources that don't rely on state funding which seems to be rapidly drying up. A follow-up post in May on Fundraising for the Arts(http://creativityjourney.blogspot.com/2010/05/fundraising-for-arts.html) looked at some ideas being tossed around and tried out. Now, an opportunity has been presented to me that I would like to share with you and hope that you will at least "peek in" every once in a while to see how its progressing and to determine if this is this is the type of alternative funding avenue you should investigate.

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I am pleased to announce that I have been selected to participate in a new online community of America’s finest artists called Project Site ( http://projectsite.unitedstatesartists.org/ ), created by United States Artists to expand its mission of investing in America’s finest artists.

I’ve been asked to join as a pioneer member!

Project Site is still in an “Alpha” stage in which a very few artists have been selected to participate. My Profile and Showcase are already up, and I’ve just launched a new project called Katrina Narratives: Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place.

Check it out here:
http://projectsite.unitedstatesartists.org/project/katrina_narratives_caught_between_a_rock_and_a_hard_place

I have some great perks available for anyone that’s interested in supporting me in this effort, and if you can’t support the project financially, I’d love it if you helped to spread the word and tell your friends about it.

Come explore a new online community of America’s finest artists!

Project Site is a community where America’s finest artists and those that love and support them can share their latest work, discover new artists, enter into a dialog with each other, and make direct donations (of any size, all of which are tax deductible) to new projects created by each artist. This is the first website in our knowledge that allows direct public donations between art patrons and accredited artists on the Internet.

Thank you for your support and interest.

It's Not About You...It's About Them: What Motivates Bay Area Donors to Give to the Arts and Artists

Although this study focused on the San Francisco Bay Region,

its findings are probably applicable nationwide.

KEY POINTS:

1. Values shape people's charitable giving - Connecting to the values and interests of potential donors is essential to success in any fundraising effort and raising money for artists’ projects is no different.
2. Donors to artists and small arts organizations differ from donors to larger arts institutions - in values as well as in their profiles
3. Donors to artists’ projects are moved to give by four connection points - a personal relationship with the artist; a passion for the artform; an emotional or intellectual interest in the subject
   matter of the artwork; and an involvement with the culture or community touched by the project.
   
   Connecting with the donor on more than one of these points increases the likelihood of giving.

To read the full report:
http://www.heliconcollab.net/files/It%27s%20Not%20About%20You...%20It%27s%20About%20Them.pdf

Fundraising for the Arts

Since the 4/23/2010 post about the horrific budget cuts
for the arts being proposed by a lot of governors, and with 
Vicki W's comment regarding the need during the current economic crisis
for us to identify/create non-governmental resources for funding the arts,
I've been trying to research this. Admitedly I haven't yet been able to
come up with much, but hopefully the following is a start...

Winning for art in a funding storm - "Artists throughout the State of New Jersey have been weathering their own storm of increasing intensity, as the government cuts back on arts funding. 'All individual artist grants have been canceled,' says Kay Kenny, president of Pro Arts." The article includes an innovative fundraising idea Pro Arts used to try to help make up for the lost funding opportunities.
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/03/winning_for_art_in_a_funding_s.html

The Artist Pension Fund - This is promoted as an artist retirement fund that minimizes risk. It is indeed a unique and creative concept. Its not a scam, but after reading other articles about it, I'm skeptical about how well it'll work. As one person pointed out, the market will ultimately make that determination... 
http://www.artistpensiontrust.org/home.asp

• The Artists who Invest in Themselves: The Artist Pension Trust could provide a nest egg for an uncertain future. If it works...  http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/The-artists-who-invest-in-themselves/20694
  .
• Can Art Trusts Work?   http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2004/06/several_weeks_a.html

823 Key Project: Funding Artists Through Fashion - Lorraine Sanders - "823 keys will be sold to provide a grant to one artist. Then the process begins anew. "
http://www.7x7.com/blogs/glamwatch/823-key-project-funding-artists-through-fashion

Two Funding Ideas based on the Microfinance Concept

• Kickstarter - "Kickstarter is a funding platform for artists, designers, filmmakers, musicians, journalists, inventors, explorers..."
  http://www.kickstarter.com/
  .
• IndieGoGo - "IndieGoGo is a collaborative way to fund ideas. Anyone with a project - creative, cause or entrepreneurial - can raise money, offer perks and keep 100% ownership of their idea."
  http://www.indiegogo.com/

Joining Forces to Save a Visual Scene
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704450504575222920092113984.html?mod=WSJ_NY_Culture_LEFTTopStories

Fundraising and Development Toolkit - Texas Commission on the Arts
http://www.arts.state.tx.us/toolkit/fundraising/

Fundraising from Individuals - Martha Richards - "Many women artists are familiar with writing grant proposals to government agencies or foundations, but they are not sure how to raise money from individuals because there are no clear guidelines or application forms. This article will focus on strategies for raising money for your projects by approaching individuals for contributions."
http://www.womenarts.org/skills/fund_basics.htm


Grantseeking Basics for Individuals in the Arts - Foundation Center - This is a 60 minute webinar recording - "This course is geared towards individuals involved in the arts and looking to fund any type of arts-related project. - If you are an individual involved in the arts and looking for funding to complete a project, mount an exhibition, put on a performance, conduct research, or anything else arts-related, this webinar will show you how to identify funders supporting individuals working in the arts. We will also touch on grantmaker motivations in funding individual artists, and the variety of support options available."

There is a Registration Form for a July 15 session, but you can view a session by clicking on the link located on the right side of the page.
http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/training/webinars/gsbia_webinar.html 

Fundraising for the Arts - This is a 7.21minute video - During the summer of 2009, leaders from emerging art spaces around the world met in Canada. This was one of the topics discussed. It was presented by Anne Dunning of Arts Action Research USA
http://freedimensional.ning.com/video/fundraising-for-the-arts

Negotiating the Balance Between the Roles of Artists and Facilitators - 5.18 minute video -Presented by Julie Upmeyer from Caravansarai, Turkey
http://freedimensional.ning.com/video/negotiating-the-balance

In Mexico, Artists Can Pay Their Taxes with Artwork - As little appreciation as our governments seem to have for art and artists (again, I'm referencing the 4/23/2010 post), this will never happen here...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-04-15-paying-taxes-with-artwork_N.htm