Are you looking for funding for your creative projects? Then check out the soon to be launched by the Business to Arts programme Fund it - which they comment is the first ‘crowdfunding’ web platform in Ireland whose aim it is to raise funds from the general public for creative ideas from all over the island.

Fund it will allow people to share their ideas for creative projects with their online and offline communities, offering unique rewards for different sums pledged. Projects, which can come from any art-form or any creative process, including art, architecture, craft, design, events, festivals, fashion, film, TV, food, games, media, literature, publishing, music, performance, theatre, opera, dance, science or technology, will be available to view on www.fundit.ie.

The project creators will promote their ideas to the public, initially through their own contacts and social networks, with a view to reaching their financial goal within a time period of their choosing – typically between 4-8 weeks.

The Fund it project is designed to support greater individual giving to the arts, culture and creative industries and sectors in Ireland however, funders of projects can be from anywhere in the world.  

Project creators can submit your project to the website and If the project meets Fund it’s guidelines, it will be uploaded on to the website for a defined period, during which the creators will promote the project to their network of supporters who can help them fund it.  

When the deadline for a project is reached, if the target is not met, funders’ pledges are cancelled and the project does not get funding.  If the target is reached or exceeded by the deadline, all pledges are processed, and income raised is credited to the project creator - there is a 3% commission to cover the costs of the financial transactions and a 5% commission for Fund it to be able to provide the service in the future. 

The Fund it project will be operated by Business to Arts, a not-for-profit organisation working to support sustainability in the cultural sector through research, innovation and partnership. Fund it is a service created by Business to Arts, developed with the support of a Technology Grant from the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and private foundation investment.

So if you are looking for funding for your creative project head on over to the Fundit.ie website where you can subscrive to their mailing list to keep up to speed with their programme - you will also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Fund it Introduction from Fund it on Vimeo.

Here is a great new network and event if you are involved in non fiction writing or copywriting - it's a programme called ScribeTribe and is launching in March 2011 Belfast, facilitated by Dawn Baird of Sensei Learning and Performance.

The meetings will include a brief seminar by someone experienced in writing and the opportunity to network.

If you are based in driving distance of Belfast and are a copywriter, web content writer, write press releases or in fact are interested in learning more about non fiction writing then check out the event.

And if you are experienced in writing non fiction, get in touch with Dawn as they are looking for speakers.

The first ScribeTribe event is on 8 March in Belfast between 5.30-7.30pm and costs £25 to attend.

You will also find ScribeTribe on Facebook.