Matched-Money in the Arts and Culture: Conceptualising Online and Offline Matchfunding Models

Abstract In arts and culture, funding depends on a wide range of stakeholders forming a complex ecosystem, including the artists themselves, market agents, politicians, policymakers, and, more recently, online platforms. Co-funding mechanisms offer alternatives to fund-seekers needing extra revenue sources, additional donations or ways to share the costs of cultural production among different parties. One type of co-funding mechanism is called “matchfunding”, in which different partners or donors match each other’s contributions. More recently, matchfunding has integrated crowdfunding platforms where the crowd’s contributions are matched with an institutional (public or private) donor. This chapter explores different matchfunding arrangements, provides examples for each type, and discusses the benefits and constraints of channelling public and private funding through (mainly online) matchfunding schemes.