It is harder and harder to keep up with the ever changing world we have access to today. Something amazing could be around for years before you or I ever hear about it. So forgive me if you have, I had too but not really while paying any attention to what was being told to me.
http://www.kickstarter.com/
This is an amazing project, I found through my college (Rhode Island School of Designs) alumni LinkedIn group. It seems not being in school slows the passing along of information too. Kickstarter is a website where artists of all types (visual, audio, textual, etc) can pitch dream projects (or projects they just started thinking about) and collect funding for it in return for promises of gifts. If the artist doesn’t reach 100% of his or her goal funding, no one who promised money is on the hook for any monies promised. But if they do reach 100% of their goal they thank you for your faith and support in them with presents that vary based off the level of funding you gave. You dreamed of traveling the world and taking pictures, here you can see if you’ve got what it takes to generate a following of supporters who also want to see what you can create.
The possibilities have the wheels in my head turning…. those long lost projects I hoped to one day make but let me thoughts turn to something else when the actual up front cost of follow through left me staggering for air. It’s like getting a grant from a hundred people who believe in you. HOW AMAZING!?! Then if you find someone and say, “man! I would love to get a print/book/see an exhibition from her/him!” you can donate and if the artist meets their goal you get that as a thank you. I’m sold.