practical way of sponsorship

It can be hard in nowadays try to show people what you create and make all art’s staff based only on money from yourself. Thanks God, there are opportunities for supporting young, and not only young, talented person from government or something like this. Now I’m in Finland and I can see how it works – for example, small on-line art gallery, where I’m working now, has many sales from government and can spend money for developing (http://paintingdb.com/).

But in many cases it’s not enough. Consequently, people have to find sponsors.

However, in many cases people from art circles idealize sponsorship or think that sponsorship is equal to patronage of arts. In my opinion, it’s a big mistake, because on my own experience (I’ve found a sponsor for my music band) I realized – it’s only a deal between sponsor and sponsored. You should have not an art, but product, which can be favorably sold, be attractive for wide groups of people and have a future.

Of course, I can make a mistake on this practical way of thinking. But when you want to develop your music or something, this way of recognition is the best for you: for example, if you want to find a sponsor in Russia you must be practical person, because government doesn’t want and can’t to help you – you should find a sponsor by yourself and for Russia it’s possible only with help of personal contacts with people who are rich enough.

This situation common not only for modern Russia – even in history we can find examples of unsuccessful attempt to contact with sponsor. For instance, Leonardo da Vinchi  had a great sponsor in Milan (Lodoviko Sforzo), but he couldn’t convince Lodoviko in necessity engineer’s projects (like tank, parachute, diving suite).

But anyway, you shouldn’t forget about art components of our projects – money for developing are great thing, of course, but if you must change your own ideas for getting money I think you should find better offer.