Cultural Crowdfunding: Does Experience Matter?

Despite increasing interest in crowdfunding as an alternative source of, or supplementary, funding, there is still limited adoption of this new digital practice among artists. The current study explores the variety of funding sources that artists use for their projects and the position of crowdfunding in relation to traditional sources. In addition, this study discusses how artists who embrace crowdfunding differ from those who have not tried it. The results indicate that favorable attitudes toward crowdfunding, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and perceived behavioral control are exhibited at higher levels among artists with crowdfunding experience compared to those without it. To enable greater adoption, efforts need to be directed toward communication about the benefits of crowdfunding for artists, as well as the promotion of success cases. The endorsement of crowdfunding by cultural authorities (e.g., through match funding) may further boost its uptake and unlock additional resources for cultural workers in a time of digital disruption and increased uncertainty.