Back the next wave of culture
The ZAO Fund for Emerging Culture backs independent musicians, artists, and technologists building collaborative cultural experiences - from a free festival in Maine to creators around the world. Sponsors and donors are how we deepen the support behind every artist we curate.
Two ways to give
Pick the one that fits - they are separate paths, not combined. We will route you to the right one.
Sponsor the ZAO Fund on Artizen. Your gift unlocks matching funds from the platform endowment at that week's rate and deepens the pool behind every artist we back - and the top contributor is featured as Presenting Sponsor on the fund.
Best if amplified impact + brand visibility matter most.
The ZAO has no 501(c)(3) or fiscal sponsor in 2026, so a sponsorship is not tax-deductible and comes with no tax receipt. It is a sponsorship with real brand placement.
Ask your own accountant how a sponsorship applies to you.
What your support does
Sponsor dollars are pooled into the ZAO Fund as matching funds. When a fan buys a $10 Artifact from a project we back, your matching is unlocked on top - so your gift multiplies the artist's own fundraising rather than replacing it. You are not funding overhead; you are amplifying creators who are already showing up for their work.
Where it goes
- ZAOstock 2026 - a free, artist-built music festival in downtown Ellsworth, Maine (Oct 3), part of Art of Ellsworth weekend, at the gateway to Acadia. Built by a 27-person team with the local community.
- The ZAO community of creators - musicians, filmmakers, and builders running projects on Artizen. See who we back.
- Live standings - we build in public. See the fund dashboard.
Who is behind this
We build in public - the team, the lineup, and the standings are all visible.