Helen Thompson on developing donor commitment
Classical musician, Helen Thompson participated in Match Lab in 2016/17 and used the ACF to raise funds to purchase the violone.
Helen had a lofty goal – to become Tasmania’s first resident violone player and bring a valuable skill set into the state’s cultural sector. Her campaign strategy was underpinned by solid research on her target donors and a commitment to confident and audacious requests. Through her campaign, she learnt the importance of a good pitch, how to use humour to build rapport and how to use her art form to arrest attention.
On just day three of her campaign, Helen met her target of $2,500, going on to raise a total of $2,824 which was matched by us. “Not only has the fundraising allowed me to gear up and provide a useful instrument for Tasmania’s cultural scene more generally, the project has also enabled the purchase of another instrument altogether, said Helen.
Since Match Lab Helen has composed and performed A Tasmanian Requiem, a groundbreaking cross-cultural collaboration between Tasmanian Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal creatives, whose theme is the legacy of the Black War and an opportunity to mourn and atone for the losses suffered. The musical project has gained widespread critical acclaim.
Plans are now in the pipeline to tour and record, as well as for a feature-length documentary which will outline the process of making the work. Helen was also offered to teach Classical Voice and directing the Classical Vocal Ensemble at the University of Tasmania Conservatorium of Music and will perform a VIP gig for her supporters this August.
