– There are fantastic conditions for carrying out many more local events in the island's rural areas. The obstacle is that it is often perceived as difficult, time-consuming, and financially risky to be an organizer. Now we offer a solution – in the form of a very user-friendly digital platform and free training in event organization.
This is said by Lars Gidfeldt at the Gotland-based Easy Arr, which is currently running a Leader Gute-supported project for more local events in Gotland's rural areas.
– In Gotland's rural areas, there are so many talented musicians and cultural talents who are not yet established. There are also many small-scale producers of local and sustainable goods. In addition, there is an abundance of fantastic venues and meeting places. In other words, there are fantastic conditions for many more local events featuring both music and culture as well as sales of products and other elements. Events that would enrich the lives of those living in the community and attract visitors, notes Lars Gidfeldt.
Easy Arr, headquartered in Gotland, has developed a digital platform aimed at making it easy, efficient, and financially risk-free to create and carry out events. The platform was tested for the first time in the spring of 2022 in collaboration with Bygdegården in Stånga, the rock band Lazy Afternoon, and Folkuniversitetet. Now the platform has spread across large parts of Sweden. And this summer it is being used by, among others, Visby Cathedral and Novi Resort in Visby.
The next step is to see how the platform, in combination with training in event organization, can particularly contribute to even more events in the island's rural areas.
– We are often called ”Culture's AirBnb” because we offer artists, cultural practitioners, local producers, organizers, and venue owners a smart solution to meet and develop and realize new events in their communities. Completely without financial risk, says Lars Gidfeldt.
The most important features of Easy Arr's platform – which is completely free here – are as follows:
- Artists, cultural practitioners, local producers, organizers, and venue owners can easily find each other. If the person you are looking for is not available, you can invite them with a few simple clicks.
- Preliminary calculations to see what ticket revenues are required to break even – taking into account costs such as taxes, VAT, rights fees, etc.
- Contract templates and secure payment solutions with card and swish.
- Prepayment of so-called SOWING tickets until the event reaches break even. If the goal is not reached, it cannot be carried out. All money is automatically refunded to those who purchased the early SOWING tickets – no one has taken any risk – the organizer does not pay a penny to EasyArr. EasyArr only costs if the event makes a profit.
- Website for the event.
- We have noted in the introduction of our Leader Gute-supported project in the island's rural areas that many find the very act of organizing to be difficult and financially risky. The work requires many special skills and takes a lot of time. Therefore, many businesses and associations refrain from taking on this role – despite the fact that there are such fine conditions year-round, says Lars Gidfelt.
- With EasyArr, you are guided step by step – it should take an hour, no more, from when you start planning until you can sell your first ticket. To simplify further, we invite you to a mini-workshop where we set up the profile and go through how to create and carry out an event. Let's meet for two hours – then you will have your venue, your band, or your profile as an organizer up and running.
Lars believes that Easy Arr has met with good interest and now hopes that as many businesses and associations as possible will see how they can grow with the help of EasyArr.
– There is such a great and exciting potential for more rural events – year-round – on Gotland. Now we are removing all financial risks – it never costs anything to try!