The Kickstarter Culture Fund is a $1 million fund supporting independent creators in Arts, Fashion, Film, and Music through contributions to their Kickstarter campaigns.
The fund marks Kickstarter's first direct investment in creative ideas, fueling the power of belief with meaningful financial support.
Applications are open. We can't wait to see your idea.
What you get
Selected recipients will receive:
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A direct pledge to their live Kickstarter campaign. Pledge amounts will vary based on the project and level of support needed.
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Promotional support across Kickstarter's owned and operated channels, subject to editorial review.
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Recipients with particularly boundary-pushing work may also receive additional campaign guidance and promotional support.
Who can apply
Eligibility :
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Projects must be in one of the following categories: Art, Photography, Dance, Theater, Film, Fashion, or Music.
- Your Kickstarter campaign status must be live or in draft (with at least a main image and description).
- Projects must launch before or on December 31, 2026.
- Applicants must meet Kickstarter's location requirements. See our Help Center for more information.
How to apply
Applying to the Kickstarter Culture Fund is simple.
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Prepare your Kickstarter project. To apply, your project must be in draft or live.
- Confirm that your project meets the eligibility requirements.
- Submit your Culture Fund application.
- If selected, launch your campaign and receive a contribution from the Kickstarter Culture Fund.
Creative Scotland
Kickstarter will expand the impact of the Culture Fund through partnerships with organizations that share its commitment to supporting independent creators. The first funding partner will be Creative Scotland.
The Creative Scotland Forward Fund supports eligible Scotland-based creators with funding and resources to bring their projects to life on Kickstarter.
Creator Resources Hub
Everything you need to get your project off the ground, reach the right people, build a marketing campaign, and see it through.
Kickstarter Partners
Looking for guidance? Browse our directory to connect with partners who can support you with strategy, marketing, manufacturing, fulfillment, and more.
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Kickstarter Learning Lab
These expert-led videos will guide you through selecting the right partners, planning your marketing, and building a strategy to secure funding successfully.
FAQs
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You must be at least 18 years old, and your project must be focused on Art, Photography, Dance, Theater, Film, Fashion, or Music.
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In order to launch a project on Kickstarter, a creator will need to meet the requirements for one of the following countries:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Once verified, you can choose to set your project’s location to a city in a country that best describes where your project is based. You can do this on the Basics tab of your project editor. However, the physical address on your verification documents must be in one of the above countries.
See our Help Center for more information on Kickstarter's location requirements. -
No, but you must at least have a draft Kickstarter campaign that includes a main image and a one-paragraph description.
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Yes! We welcome applicants with varying levels of experience.
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Projects in Art, Dance, Theater, Photography, Fashion, Film, and Music will be considered. If you’re not sure what category best suits your project, additional guidance can be found here.
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The amount of funding a project receives varies based on the needs of each individual campaign and the discretion of the Kickstarter team. All awarded projects will receive at least $1000.
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We will select applicants on a rolling basis throughout 2026. Once your application is submitted, you will be notified of its status within six weeks.
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Every application is reviewed by the Kickstarter Forward Funds team and Kickstarter’s Category Leads. Projects are selected based on how well they demonstrate the core criteria we used to evaluate applicants. This includes: Innovation, Design, Creative Story, Kickstarter Potential, and a demonstrated ability to execute on your plans.
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Your campaign must launch by December 31, 2026.
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You should only apply to one fund opportunity. Please pick the fund you think your project is best suited for.
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No. The pledge, along with other support associated with this fund, is exclusively available to selected applicants who are launching a Kickstarter project for their idea.
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If you are selected, funding will be applied to your project once it is live. This funding is just like any other pledge you will receive on Kickstarter: if your project successfully reaches its funding goal, you can expect to receive the pledge along with the rest of the funds raised during your campaign within two to three weeks after your campaign concludes. Find more information on creator payouts here.
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Kickstarter uses an all-or-nothing funding model. This means we don’t release funds unless a project meets its goal. This ensures that creators have enough money to deliver on their promises and aren’t expected to complete a project without the necessary funds. This also assures backers that they’re funding creative ideas that are set to succeed.
When you’re ready to try your hand at another launch, we’re here to help you succeed. Plenty of Kickstarter creators learn valuable lessons from their first campaign that help them succeed down the road.
