I really modelled it onto crack_van, because that format worked well for them and all the fandom-specific clones of that comm, and I thought it would be transferable to fanart. So it seemed a tried model to keep a comm alive and interest up long-term, and considering this comm is now over two years and at least still has some regular traffic (which is more than can be said for some open posting fannish comms) it worked somewhat.

Another reason why I picked this setup is that many people like to prepare recs in advance, and if you aren't sure to be the only one to rec a popular fandom, another might have just recced that currently hot fanart if it is just melee posting.

Ideally being able to claim a month had the goal to ensure steady content and traffic to keep up interests and to give reccers the opportunity to highlight their fandom in the space. Personally I actually find this kind of setup less intimidating? (that's not quite the word, I mean, the effect where in an unstructured crowd you can't know what others might do and keep back to lurk and see, hoping others will start and post so you won't have take space, compared to when you sign up and have a space given to you to fill out).

I'd consider changing the structure if many member say they'd prefer more free-form reccing in this space over the crack_van format, though.