Culture,commerce and crowdfunding: Artists’ experiences of crowdfunding and lessons from Japan

Abstract

Recently, cultural crowdfunding has emerged as a prominent funding mechanism, enabling the efficient collection of micro-donations from supporters. Despite its growing significance, research on cultural crowdfunding remains limited. This paper seeks to make an original contribution by examining the impacts of cultural crowdfunding in Japan, focussing on the perspectives of performing artists and representatives of cultural organisations. It underscores the importance of considering local contexts and developing a nuanced understanding of crowdfunding’s role in the cultural and creative industries. To explore artists’ attitudes and approaches towards cultural crowdfunding, this study employs Boltanski and Thévenot’s theories of justification, specifically contrasting the values of the inspired world and the market world. By analysing cultural crowdfunding in Japan, this paper aims to enhance the understanding of artists’ policies and the role of public support for culture in the post-pandemic society.