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Type: Digital, Offline · Time: Ongoing · Complexity: Tricky

A key thing to bear in mind when starting a Membership or Friends scheme is that they are not ‘quick wins’. They can take years of serious investment (both financially and in terms of time), and require a lot of maintenance. However, this investment - if placed wisely - can reap huge benefits for an organisation. Some venues, such as the RA, receive upwards of 30% of their annual income through their membership scheme. Considering the huge funding cuts to the arts, that additional income can be an enormous opportunity for many organisations.

A membership scheme doesn’t just have to apply to organisations however. Some entrepreneurial independent artists have developed their own membership schemes for their buyers. Ashley Longshore is a self-taught artist who launched ARTGASM, an annual subscription in which she sends 4 unique limited gifts per year to members. Subscriptions start at $50 per month. Having a guaranteed monthly income might seem like a distant dream for many independent artists, but there are people out there proving that it can definitely be done!

 
How we can help: 

We specialise in helping our clients achieve their goals. We have previously built custom supports membership schemes for our arts clients, including B-Side Festival. If you need help delivering your arts membership scheme, or if you want to take your strategy further, we at Wired Canvas can help. Have a look at our portfolio to see how we've helped others in the past and get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!