Remember, not everyone you ask to give will give, so even a modest crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise a few thousand dollars requires getting in front of thousands of people.
Unless you’re famous in your own right or have strong social influence, it’s unlikely you’ve got immediate access to a network of this size. Here’s where PR comes to the party.

Crowdfunding is not about you. It’s about the community around what you do. Your crowd.
And there’s a difference between your audience and your crowd. Your crowd are the people personally, financially, and emotionally invested in you successfully completing your art project. They’re with you for the journey. They’re with you for your career.