State arts agencies today must contend with shrinking budgets and reduced funds for programs, operations, personnel and communications. Travel restrictions have reduced opportunities for face-to-face contact with constituents. At the same time, demands for the use of new technology are increasing. There are rising expectations of connectedness and immediacy among constituents. The public expects 24/7 access to information and real-time updates of important issues and opportunities. Also, given the state fiscal environment, it's never been more important for state arts agencies to be able to express their value in clear, accessible ways.
To navigate these complex intersections, state arts agencies have become highly creative in their uses of technology to manage their resources, operate efficiently and provide services to the public.
This sampler offers an introduction to the ways that state arts agencies are using new technology to meet their communications and public outreach goals. For more information, see the links and examples below or contact Communications Manager Sue Struve.
Videos
YouTube Channels:
Podcasting
- Alabama State Council on the Arts: Alabama Arts Radio Series
- Delaware Division of the Arts: Delaware State of the Arts Podcasts
- Mississippi Arts Commission: Mississippi Arts Hour
Social Networking
Facebook Pages:
- Arkansas Arts Council
- California Arts Council
- Colorado Creative Industries
- Texas Commission on the Arts
- Vermont Arts Council
- Virginia Commission for the Arts
Twitter Feeds:
- California Arts Council
- Colorado Creative Industries
- Maryland State Arts Council
- Massachusetts Cultural Council
- Mississippi Arts Commission
- Oklahoma Arts Council
- Wyoming Arts Council
Blogs
- Massachusetts Cultural Council: artsake
- Maine Arts Commission: Discussing the Dynamics of Art in Maine
- Montana Arts Council: Montana Arts Council
- North Carolina Arts Council: ncarts everyday
- Vermont Arts Council: Arts Issues by Alex Aldrich
- Wyoming Arts Council: Wyoming Arts
E-Publications
- Iowa Arts Council: Iowa Arts News
- Montana Arts Council: State of the Arts Newspaper
- Washington State Arts Commission: eNews
Arts Marketing
- Arizona Commission on the Arts: Teaching Artist Roster
- Delaware Division on the Arts: Delaware Scene
- Idaho Arts Commission: Idaho Artists in Focus
- Iowa Arts Council: Iowa Artist Directory
- Indiana Arts Commission: Indiana Artisan
- Kentucky Arts Council: Kentucky Crafted Directory
- Massachusetts Cultural Council: ArtistLink
- New England Foundation for the Arts: Matchbook.org
- New Jersey State Arts Council: Discover Jersey Arts
- Ohio Arts Council: Arts in Ohio Calendar
- Utah Arts Council: Now Playing Utah
Communities of Practice
- Oregon Arts Commission: As a part of the Sustaining Oregon Arts: A Capacity Building Initiative, the Oregon Arts Commission (OAC) developed an on-line community that contains discussion forums, learning groups, a resources area, an initiative events calendar and the wire, the sites microblogging feature. The site is managed in collaboration with the consulting firm TCC Group. To learn more about the Sustaining Oregon Arts on-line community, contact OAC Deputy Director Shannon Planchon.
- Utah Arts Council: Change Leader Network The Utah Arts Council has developed an invitation only NING social networking site for the participants of its Change Leader Program. The purpose of this site is to maintain the vibrant, ongoing community created during the program. Change Leaders use this network to share information, strategy and encouragement in a secure environment.