CROWDFUNDING
FOR INDEPENDENT ARTISTS*
with Alif Ahmad
3 December 2026 ➔ Online, 5:30PM CET ➔ €40
THE WORKSHOP
Crowdfunding can help you move a creative project from idea to reality without relying on traditional funding routes. But a successful campaign needs more than putting a project online and asking people to contribute.
This workshop introduces crowdfunding as a practical funding tool for independent artists and creatives.
You’ll explore how crowdfunding works, how to adapt your approach to projects of different sizes and how to communicate your idea to the people who might support it.
A key part is the relationship behind the funding. You’ll look at how mailing lists, social media and direct communication can help you build and maintain a community around your work, before, during and after a campaign.
Questions are welcome throughout the workshop, with dedicated time towards the end to discuss your own ideas and challenges.
THE DETAILS*
Crowdfunding looks different for every project. The workshop looks at how to choose an approach that fits the scale of your project, communicate what you are trying to make and stay connected with the people interested in seeing it happen.
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By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how crowdfunding can support an independent creative project.
You’ll learn how to adapt a crowdfunding campaign to the scale of your idea and how to build relationships with potential supporters through mailing lists, social media and other forms of communication.
The aim is to give you a practical starting point for thinking about funding and audience-building as connected parts of your creative practice.
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This workshop is for independent artists and creatives who have an idea they want to bring to life and are looking for ways to fund it.
It’s for you if you’re considering crowdfunding for a creative project, want to understand how to approach it at different scales, or want to build stronger relationships with the people who support your work.
You don’t need any previous crowdfunding experience. Bring your project, an early idea or simply your interest in the topic.
Why the Boring Workshops?
These aren’t pre-recorded courses. They’re live online workshops with professional instructors and creatives where you can ask questions, receive feedback, get personal guidance, and interact with peers in real time.
Recordings are made available after the session so you can rewatch and follow at your own pace.
Alif Haji Ahmad is a musician and formally-trained art teacher with sixteen years of experience in Brunei, East Africa and France in music and art education.
During his time teaching abroad at international schools in Tanzania and Uganda from 2016 to 2024, he released music as a solo artist under the name ALIFCHIEF, fusing elements of rock and world music, particularly African and Nusantara music. All of his independent releases were fully crowdfunded, made possible through creating and maintaining relationships with his fans via various means (mailing list, Whatsapp, networking).
He has made a number of concerts during his time in East Africa, the most notable one being the 2023 edition of Fete de la musique (World Music Day) in Kampala, Uganda, headlining alongside major Ugandan and Kenyan artists.
Now based in France since 2024, he continues to perform and has registered as a member of SACEM (the publishing rights company in France) ensuring that his works generate royalties from live performances, radio airplay and streaming.
Meet Alif
Learn how to use crowdfunding to fund your creative project and build a community around your work.
What You’ll Leave With:
A clear understanding of how crowdfunding can fund part or all of an independent creative project.
A way to adapt your crowdfunding approach to the size and needs of your project.
Practical ideas for building and maintaining relationships with potential supporters.
A better understanding of how mailing lists, social media and direct communication can support your campaign.