Crowdcul and CreaTeME arranged seminar on Sustainable Financing for the Cultural and Creative Sector
Final Stakeholders Seminar for CrowdCul Project at Bølgen Bærekraftsenter
On December 5th, 2024, the CrowdCul project concluded with a comprehensive stakeholders seminar at Bølgen Bærekraft Senter, Kristiansand. Organized by CrowdCul in collaboration with CreaTeME, the event presented the results of an ambitious research initiative and invited experts to reflect on sustainable financing models for the cultural and creative sectors. The day-long seminar featured a blend of presentations, panels, and discussions, highlighting innovative practices and pressing challenges for the industry.
Morning Sessions: Research and Key Insights
The seminar opened with an overview of the CrowdCul project, delivered by Natalia Maehle from Western Norway University of Applied Science. Maehle detailed the project’s key findings, emphasizing the role of crowdfunding in reshaping cultural financing.
Rotem Shneor, from the University of Agder, followed with an insightful introduction to cultural and creative crowdfunding, unpacking its potential to democratize funding access. Christer Falck then offered a case study on crowdfunding Norway’s musical heritage, underscoring the importance of leveraging community-based funding models to preserve cultural legacies.
Exploring GLAM and the Music Sector
After a short break, Janet Merkel from the Technical University of Berlin presented a survey on funding sources for Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM). Merkel’s findings illuminated a growing need for diversified funding streams in these traditional cultural sectors.
Daniel Nordgård of the University of Agder provided insights from the Norwegian Artist Survey, detailing trends and obstacles in music financing. His presentation highlighted the sector’s increasing reliance on alternative funding mechanisms and digital platforms. Alice Demattos Guimaraes closed the session with a discussion on cultural-creative crowdfunding as a responsible innovation, proposing it as a sustainable solution for the culture sector’s evolving challenges.
Panel Discussion: Financing the Future
Following lunch, the seminar shifted to an engaging panel discussion in Norwegian, featuring prominent industry voices such as Crister Falck, Anders Rykkja (Queen’s College), Daniel Nordgård (UiA / CreaTeME), Askil Holm (UiA / CreaTeME), and Torfinn McKenzie Juva. The panel examined the complexities of sustainable financing, the role of crowdfunding, and emerging challenges facing Norway’s cultural and creative industries. The discussion underscored the urgency of fostering collaborations between public and private sectors to ensure long-term viability.
International Perspectives and Innovation
The afternoon sessions expanded the scope with global insights. Anders Rykkja and Lluis Bonet presented evidence from Spain and Sweden on public-private match funding models, demonstrating their effectiveness in promoting cultural projects. The seminar concluded with Torfinn McKenzie Juva’s introduction to Backr, a pioneering Norwegian platform aimed at empowering artists through streamlined funding and audience engagement tools.
Photo by CreaTeME-team