4. We can’t afford it
We know that organisations don’t necessarily have the funding they need to run, but funding remains the single largest barrier to applying for things.
Make fees optional — Consider replacing your application fee with a suggested donation.
Be flexible — If you must charge a fee, make it sliding scale (early bird versus late deadline) and give fee waivers to anyone who asks. Accept multiple forms of payment like PayPal or BitCoin, since not everyone has a international credit card or bank account.
Create scholarships, small stipends, or fellowships — If your program has a fee, try to find ways to subsidise at least some participants by finding outside sponsors, creating opportunities for work-trade with a percentage discount.
Cover travel — even if your program is free, travel costs can be prohibitive, as are associated costs (applying for passports and visas, if travelling internationally.) If you can, cover all the above as part of travel costs. Also worth noting that people can donate airline miles to your organization, which can help develop a travel fund for your artists.
