As you may remember, the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center (aka The State Theatre) will soon be hosting an online crowd-sourced funding platform (catch all that?) for local art projects – connecting donors to projects they are passionate about. According to ECRAC's Executive Director Ben Richgruber, "the site allows cultural organizations to post and promote projects in need of funding and invites donors to contribute directly to the projects that are most intriguing."

It’s our own chapter of power2give.org – a project funding program a like Kickstarter for nonprofit arts projects, but on a more local level, and backed by the support of one of the Chippewa Valley’s largest cultural venues.

On Monday, October 15, they’ll have two different sessions for teaching people the ins and outs of the new system – at 9am or 1pm at the State Theatre.  And take it from us, if you are reading this and you make art of any kind – music, films, sculpture, paintings, poems, novels, festivals, shows, totally sweet dance moves, etc. – you absolutely need to attend.

UPDATE: If you missed the sessions, call up The State for more info! 715-832-2787

What's so great about it?

ECRAC had an informational meeting about the power2give.org funding program last month, where we learned a number of cool things. Like what? Like this:

• Like Kickstarter, artists and organizers get to post their projects to a central website where people are able to donate money online towards the project’s financial goal (within a time frame).
• Unlike Kickstarter, it’s promoted through existing local arts channels, alongside the project’ organizer's own promotional efforts.
• The system includes options for matching or challenge grants from local sponsors.
• A local sponsor could set up a matching grant pool of money available to a certain category of projects.
• Unlike Kickstarter, project organizers keep whatever money they raise, even it’s under their goal.
• There are gift card options. So, for example, a local company could give all of its employees power2give.org gift cards, and those individuals could spend the money on whatever local arts project they like most.
• The system allows for “a la carte” giving where a donor can spread money across different projects all at once.
• It’s designed for the non-profit sector, but that doesn't leave out individual artists, as ECRAC can review a project proposal and decide to sign on a s a sponsor. For example, a garage band might need money to record/mix a new album. ECRAC could sponsor the band so that the money raised goes to ECRAC, who then cuts a check to the band.
• ECRAC gets to set up its own parameters as far as what kinds of projects the system will serve and what kinds of organizers are eligible.
• A small portion of the money raised goes to cover admin fees the keep the program running (for things like credit card processing).

We’re early adopters of the system, along with cities like Miami, Houston, and Atlanta.  There is a chapter of this in Dane County and there are talks of doing a Wisconsin-wide version. South Carolina is even looking to use the system as a way to help supplement their entire state’s arts budget. So set some time aside on Monday to learn more about it.