What is #SupportLocal?

Every project on #SupportLocal must be creating something new to share with others. A project has a clear goal, like making an album, a book, or a work of art. A project will eventually be completed, and something will be produced by it.

SupportLocal does not allow projects to fundraise for charity or offer financial incentives.

What are the Basics?

A project is a finite work with a clear goal that you’d like to bring to life. Think albums, books, or films.

The funding goal is the amount of money that a artist needs to complete their project.

Funding on #SupportLocal is all-or-nothing. No one will be charged for a pledge towards a project unless it reaches its funding goal. This way, artists always have the budget they scoped out before moving forward.

An artist is the person behind the project idea, working to bring it to life. Backers are folks who pledge money to join artists in bringing projects to life.

Perks are a artist's chance to share a piece of their project with their backer community. Typically, these are one-of-a-kind experiences, limited editions, or copies of the creative work being produced.

What is #SupportLocal For?

Everything on #SupportLocal must be a project. A project has a clear goal, like making an album, a book, or a work of art. A project will eventually be completed, and something will be produced by it.

#SupportLocal does not allow projects to fundraise for charity or offer financial incentives.

Why is the funding All-or-Nothing?

All-or-nothing funding is a core part of #SupportLocal and it has a number of advantages:

It's less risk for everyone. If you need $5,000, it's tough having $1,000 and a bunch of people expecting you to complete a $5,000 project.

It motivates. If people want to see a project come to life, they're going to spread the word.   

It works. Of the projects that have reached 20% of their funding goal, 81% were successfully funded. Of the projects that have reached 60% of their funding goal, 98% were successfully funded. Projects either make their goal or find little support. There's little in-between.

Why should we back local projects?

It gives artists creative freedom to create arts for art sake, not requiring them to fulfil certain Key Performing Indicators that the Government/private companies would wish for. It also lowers the entry barriers for new artists. As a thriving global arts hub, Singaporeans should also support and be involved in the sector that will shape the present and future of our culture.

What do backers get in return?

Backers that support a project on #SupportLocal get an inside look at the creative process, and help that project come to life. They also get to choose from a variety of unique perks offered by the project artist. Perks vary from project to project, but often include a copy of what is being produced (CD, DVD, book, etc.) or an experience unique to the project.

Project artists keep 100% ownership of their work, and #SupportLocal cannot be used to offer equity, financial returns, or to solicit loans.

What are the fees?

#SupportLocal is a not-for-profit organisation and we take NO money from backers.
All money donated/funded go straight to the artists and their projects!
 

Who is #SupportLocal?

We are a group of local students from NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information. We decided to come together to build the first arts crowdfunding website in Singapore to support local artists.

Who is responsible for completing a project as promised?

It's the project artist's responsibility to complete their project. #SupportLocal is not involved in the development of the projects themselves.

#SupportLocal does not guarantee projects or investigate a artist's ability to complete their project. On #SupportLocal, backers (you!) ultimately decide the validity and worthiness of a project by whether they decide to fund it.

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How do backers know if a project will follow through?

Launching a #SupportLocal is a very public act, and artists put their reputations at risk when they do.

Backers should look for artists who share a clear plan for how their project will be completed, and who have a history of bringing their creative ventures and other projects to fruition. Artists are encouraged to share links and as much background information as possible so backers can make informed decisions about the projects they support.

If a artist has no demonstrable experience in doing something like their project or doesn't share key information, backers should take that into consideration. Does the artist include links to any websites that show work related to the project, or past projects? Does the artist appear in the video? Have they connected via Facebook?

Don't hesitate to request information from a artist.

How do I know a project artist is who they claim they are?

Perhaps you are friends with the artist, or you heard about the project from a trusted source.

Looking for more information? Read through the description and watch the video to get a better sense of the person or team behind the project.

In the artist bio section of each project, you can find additional resources, like links to websites, relevant background information, and in some cases, a connected Facebook account.

What should artists do if they're having problems completing their project?

If problems come up, artists are expected to post a project update explaining the situation. Sharing the story, speed bumps and all, is crucial. Most backers support projects because they want to see something happen and they'd like to be a part of it. Artists who are honest and transparent will usually find backers to be understanding.

It's not uncommon for things to take longer than expected. Sometimes the execution of the project proves more difficult than the artist had anticipated. If an artist is making a good faith effort to complete their project and is transparent about it, backers should do their best to be patient and understanding while demanding continued accountability from the artist.

What is a artist obligated to do once their project is funded?

When a project is successfully funded, the artist is responsible for completing the project and fulfilling each perk. Their fundamental obligation to backers is to finish all the work that was promised. Once an artist has done so, they’ve fulfilled their obligation to their backers.

At the same time, backers must understand that #SupportLocal is not a store. When you back a project, you’re helping to create something new — not ordering something that already exists. There’s a chance something could happen that prevents the artist from being able to finish the project as promised. If an artist is absolutely unable to complete the project and fulfill perks, they must make every reasonable effort to find another way of bringing the project to a satisfying conclusion for their backers.

Can #SupportLocal refund the money if a project is unable to be fulfilled?

No, #SupportLocal doesn't issue refunds. Transactions are between backers and artists directly. Artists receive all funds soon after their campaign ends.

Why can't #SupportLocal guarantee projects?

We started #SupportLocal as a new way for artists and audiences to work together to make things. Many traditional funding systems are risk-averse and profit-focused, and tons of great ideas never get a chance. #SupportLocal opens the door to a world full of creative possibilities, one where anyone can help decide which bright idea will become tomorrow's reality.

#SupportLocal is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative ideas. Many of the projects you see on #SupportLocal are in earlier stages of development and are looking for a community to bring them to life. That #SupportLocal allows artists to take risks and attempt to create new things is a feature, not a bug.

What does #SupportLocal do to protect its community?

We have a dedicated Integrity team that monitors the system for suspicious activity. This team screens reports that are sent to us by our community and they take action if they find something that does not align with our rules.​

It's important to remember that #SupportLocal is built on an all-or-nothing funding system. No one is charged until a project meets its funding goal and the funding period ends. This gives backers time to fully evaluate a project, and it also gives our Integrity team some time to look into any concerns raised by backers.

How do I start a project?

Anyone is eligible to launch a project on #SupportLocal.

Just head to our start a page to begin building your project. Meanwhile, feel free to save your project as a draft and return to finish it up or submit it for review at a later date.