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!
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!
