Silent Auction:Art Funding!

Taylor Flickins 2nd has a great idea for the SmallWorlds Art Community. If you're an artists looking for some funding to take your creativity to the next level, Taylor's SmallWorlds Art Funding project could be just what you're looking for!

Here's Taylor's own description of how it all works:

"Ok so I was thinking, there are so many businesses, artists, groups, and mission makers with fabulous ideas and talents, but do not have the funding to make them happen yet. That is why I would like to present to you The Silent Auction. Business's can donate items or services, individual citizens can offer services (such as an art lessons or mission tutorials) and we will take these donated items/services, to create our Silent Auction!"

Taylor accepts applications from individuals to receive a portion of the funds generated from the Silent Auction.

"I hope to do this monthly, and each month I plan on choosing 3 groups, 3 artists, 3 businesses and 3 Mission makers to receive 90% of all funds earned (10% will go to next months auction)".

Taylor is looking for donations worth at least 500 Gold / 5000 Tokens per item. They can can include wears, rares, spaces, paintings. Donated services could include art lessons, Mission Tutorials, Decorating service, or anything else you'd like to offer! Lets find out more about this great idea!

Ruby: Hi Taylor - what a cool idea! Tell me, what lead you to come up with this idea - tell me about how it germinated?

Taylor: Well I've seen some like this, but most are where people just pay new citizens or give them lessons. I thought it would be nice if I could gather donations/services rather than just gold and then auction them off.

Ruby: What kind of response have you had so far from the community?

Taylor: The response has been great!! Already a few artists have donated beautiful pieces, and businesses such as Hoofy's Photoshop have donated certificates. Our main sponsor is Riley Finn, owner of Smallmall. Each month Smallmall will not only supply us with a generous token amount, but put up posters advertising the project! Also we only accept item donations that are over 500gold/5000 tokens in value - the last thing we need is millions of fizzy drinks! Also, Morgana Tichondrious has donated a space and offered to help setup which has been really invaluable.

Ruby: Who has donated artworks so far?

Taylor: We've had lots of artists and businesses (as I mentioned above) sponsor/donate to the project. Without them none of this would be possible :) We've had art donations so far from Idda Ratherbehome, Chelsea Clinferson, Josey Belladonna and Debra Casey - and I'm hoping from lots more this week!

Ruby: Just so I'm all 100% clear, can you describe for me again just how this works in practice - lead me through it!

Taylor: Well for the last week of August and first week in September we will buzz around collecting donations and select who will receive the funds. After that process is complete, we open up the auction room for bidding. Two weeks later we mail our top bidders, send out the prizes and funds, and we start again! The bidders pay me the funds, and I then allocate those funds to those who have applied for funding.

That's the best part for me, giving out our funds to those who have signed up to receive (and those who have qualified). All funds go straight to our community and it's citizens, or back to the auction house (10% goes to seed the the next auction). We will finish up in the 3rd week of September and prizes will be sent out as soon as possible! We'll then start the process once again - seeking donated goods and services in the last week of September / 1st week of October, inviting applications for funding... and we'll just repeat it all again.

Ruby: Taylor, I think this is a brilliant initiative and I hope it gets a heap of support. If you'd like to receive some funding, or perhaps you have an item or service to donate, check out Taylor's forum thread for all the information you'll need on how to apply or donate!

Ruby Rush constantly scours the SmallWorlds Art Community for interesting things to report on. If you know of something you think the Art Community would like to know about, please email her on ruby.rush@smallworlds.com