“When bankers get together for dinner, they discuss art. When artists get together for dinner, they discuss money.”
– Oscar Wilde.

The MAIN EVENT ...
From spreadsheets to being spread too thin, this power packed event was opened with aplomb by the charismatic Andrew Bukenya, then we rolled on with Industry veteran Thom Smyth. Thom shared his hard won wisdom on all aspects of funding a production. Key takeaways from his session: Budgets matter - draft your budget first, and refine as new information comes to hand. Ensure your budget is well researched, viable and realistic. An unrealistic budget says much about the experience of your team. HOT TIP : spreadsheets are your friend. Documentation is never time or money poorly spent, it will assist with future iterations of your work. 

Insights on GRANT FUNDING ...
Newsflash ... the Grant funding space is super competitive!  Gary Paramanathan helped break it down with the following insights:  1. Allow plenty of time to get your application on point, and remember that plain language helps, don’t waffle on with ‘art wank’.  2. Keep it straight forward with the W’s in mind, who, what, when, where, why and how.  3. While you may miss out on some funding opportunities, don’t give up, as your work may be a better fit elsewhere. In a nutshell, we learn and sharpen our skills with each application. 

Mixing and mingling with PHILANTHROPY ...
When seeking donations of either cash or in-kind support, Jake Shavikin advises you be upfront about who you are as an artist and what your values are. A donation from the wrong benefactor can do more harm and be more trouble than it’s worth. Or another way to look at it is to ask yourself “ is the juice worth the squeeze?” as it takes time and energy to hustle. So just where do you find these elusive philanthropists? As Jake says ‘fish where the fish are’ and keep up to date documentation of where you have met these people, what did you talk about? You need to put your best foot forward when following up. And needless to say, but sometimes overlooked, don’t forget to thank your benefactors for their support.

ROUNDING IT UP ...
We then took our learning further in our live case study roundtables, unpacking real-world challenges alongside industry experts Leila, Gary and Jake and fellow creatives. VALUE is such an important part of your practice, and this will look different from person to person. If you get the ICK and things don’t feel in alignment with your mission and purpose, then walk away. Because at the end of the day, not all creativity has to be monetised. Allow yourself a little space each week to nurture something new. Get this balance right and you’ll develop, refine and grow your creativity.

One FINAL NOTE ...
There are many resources out there to help creatives level up. Check out Auspicious Arts Projects - a genuine lifesaver for freelance creatives, particularly for performing arts and large scale projects. They have an incredible stash of free resources available on their website. https://www.auspicious.com.au/general-resources

BIG THANKS ...
We extend huge thanks to Inner West Council and all the marvellous people involved in the production of this power packed day. Special thanks go out to Daniel McDonald for his Welcome to Country, and thanks again to the super Emma Rowland for visual scribing. A great event all round.

Creative Toolbox Learning Lab: Money, Money, Money! https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/creative-toolbox/creative-toolbox-money-money-money