Date & Venue: 22 and 27 March 2025 | Online
Facilitator: Thundafund CEO, Erica Schofield
Hosted by: National Arts Festival
Delivered as part of the Festival Enterprise Catalyst, this workshop series supported creatives in strengthening their entrepreneurial skills by introducing crowdfunding as a valuable alternative funding route. Participants began by exploring the foundations of crowdfunding—its purpose, how it has evolved, and the different models available—with particular emphasis on rewards-based approaches that align well with arts and cultural projects. They also reviewed a range of successful creative campaigns to understand what makes them effective.
Building on this foundation, the sessions guided participants through the practical process of creating their own crowdfunding campaign. This included learning how to craft a compelling narrative, select and produce strong visual content, and design reward tiers that spark interest and motivate backers.
In the final section, the workshop focused on what drives campaign success. Participants examined where support typically comes from, how funding patterns tend to unfold over time, and how these insights can be used to build momentum. They then applied this knowledge to develop tailored strategy plans suitable for both small-scale and larger campaigns, gaining clear, actionable steps to enhance their chances of reaching—and exceeding—their fundraising goals.