Kickstarter — crowdfunding for large-scale creative and cultural projects
This platform is suitable for projects where the idea, visual presentation and logic of the public narrative have been thought out in advance. Kickstarter is used to launch books and catalogues, exhibition initiatives, art objects, design, multimedia, installations, independent games, films and technological developments. Fundraising works on an all-or-nothing model: money is transferred to the authors only if the campaign reaches its stated goal. This requires careful planning, but at the same time strengthens the audience’s trust.
English-language context and international visibility The
platform’s main language is English. Project descriptions, video presentations, and communication with the audience are all in English. The algorithms and recommendation system are primarily geared towards the English-speaking world, making the platform particularly effective for projects aimed at international visibility and public discussion.
Public presentation and community engagement
Each campaign is built around a clear description of the idea, strong visual material, and a video presentation. The authors establish levels of support and offer exclusive editions, original works, catalogues, digital materials, participation in events or master classes. As a result, fundraising becomes not only a financial tool, but also a form of public presentation of the project and dialogue with the audience.
High threshold of
author involvement Unlike donation services or opportunity catalogues, Kickstarter requires active participation from the author at all stages: concept preparation, campaign launch, ongoing communication, and process support. The platform does not directly supervise content, but sets a high informal quality threshold through audience expectations and the publicity of the format.
Technical requirements and payments
To launch a project, you need a bank account in a supported country, i.e. a country where Kickstarter officially operates. These countries include, in particular: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and a number of others.
If the author resides in a country not included in this list, the platform is usually used through a partner model, where the host of the campaign is an organisation or partner registered in a supported country and officially managing the project.
The platform commission is approximately 5%, and standard payment fees are charged additionally. Funds are transferred to authors after the successful completion of the campaign, usually within a few weeks.
When to choose Kickstarter, and when to choose another format
The platform is suitable for artists and cultural initiatives that are planning large-scale projects, publishing catalogues, creating large installations or multimedia formats, and are ready to work with an international audience in public mode.
