Hands-on Cultural Project Workshop

Six free sessions at Casa da Cultura Rogério Sganzerla in Joaçaba (Santa Catarina, Brazil) to get ideas off the page: from a SWOT analysis to a pitch in front of a panel.

What it was

The Cultural Project Workshop is an intensive course of six weekly two-hour sessions. Together we explore the management of cultural projects and the tools needed to turn ideas into reality.

Each participant brings a project idea, which is developed throughout the sessions. Classes combine theory with hands-on planning. At the end, participants pitch their projects to a panel of jurors who give feedback.

Training in cultural project management is key for artists and professionals to seize the opportunities of Brazil’s cultural sector. With the Paulo Gustavo and Aldir Blanc laws, the sector received a significant boost in public funding. Understanding how a cultural project works is essential to make the most of these laws and to help initiatives that enrich Brazil’s cultural diversity flourish.

1st edition — Joaçaba (SC), 2024

• Venue: Casa da Cultura Rogério Sganzerla — downtown Joaçaba (SC)
• Sessions: Mondays, 7–9 pm, from 18 March to 29 April 2024
• Registration: 6 February to 6 March 2024, via online form; results announced on 8 March 2024

• In-person and free of charge, six two-hour sessions.
• Certificate for those attending at least 70% of the workshop.
• Offered as a public-benefit counterpart of projects funded by the Paulo Gustavo Law through the City of Joaçaba and the LPG-D+ SC call of the Santa Catarina Culture Foundation (State of Santa Catarina and Brazil’s Ministry of Culture).

2nd edition — Herval d’Oeste (SC), 2024

The workshop crossed the Peixe River: five evenings in a row in Herval d’Oeste (Santa Catarina, Brazil) for anyone with an idea who wants to turn it into a cultural project.

• Venue: Centro de Eventos Unidos do Herval — Herval d’Oeste (SC)
• Sessions: 23–27 September 2024, Monday to Friday, 7–9 pm
• Registration: until 20 September 2024, via online form

• In-person and free of charge, five two-hour sessions.
• Certificate for those attending at least 70% of the workshop.
• Funded by the Paulo Gustavo Law (Santa Catarina Culture Foundation, State of Santa Catarina and Brazil’s Ministry of Culture).

Who it was for

15 places, no previous experience required, but each participant needed a project idea in a cultural field: film and video, theatre, visual arts, music and the like.

Course plan

18/03 · Session 01 — Introduction

Each participant presents themselves and their initial idea, followed by an overview of cultural funding mechanisms and how they differ: tax-incentive laws, open calls, awards and other ways of raising money for projects.
Activity: each participant does a SWOT analysis of their project or idea.

01/04 · Session 02 — Structuring the project

The building blocks of a cultural project: presentation, rationale, objectives, budget, communication plan, distribution plan and so on.
Activity: each participant drafts what to write in each section.

08/04 · Session 03 — Team, budget and schedule

How to plan the management of a project by understanding its stages, the people involved and its costs.
Activity: participants draw up a schedule, a budget and a list of potential partners.

15/04 · Session 04 — Fundraising

Ways to raise funds and structure communication plans that attract direct and indirect sponsors.
Activity: each participant proposes sponsorship tiers and media plans and maps local companies likely to sponsor.

22/04 · Session 05 — Keeping projects alive

How to structure and plan the ongoing actions of a cultural project.
Activity: participants plan spin-offs that let the project continue in different actions and places.

29/04 · Session 06 — Pitching

How to present projects to the different audiences involved, with specific techniques for talking to sponsors.
Activity: each participant pitches the project developed during the workshop.

Instructor

Rudolfo Auffinger holds degrees in Film and Video and in Advertising. As a freelancer he works in audiovisual production and editing. As a director he has made music videos, documentaries and video installations. He founded Pupilo, a film streaming platform for schools, and is part of the Rachadura Visual collective. More at rudolfo.art.br.

Want to bring this workshop to your town?

We adapt content, length and format (in person or online) for culture departments, schools, universities, community culture centres and festivals. Write to oi@rachaduravisual.com.br.