DRAFT Vision Statement:
Our vision of communications
and networking among arts and cultural organizations
in Greater Flint is to create a cooperative, collaborative environment
where higher levels of awareness, advocacy and engagement among
area artists, residents and visitors are achieved as
a result of sharing resources
and working together. In addition, arts and cultural activities
in Greater Flint are perceived as varied (something for everyone),
relevant, inclusive, accessible, and important/essential
to our community identity and quality of life.
Diane's proposed Vision statement:
A collaborative
environment in which the arts, in the broadest sense, are
promoted locally, regionally & nationally to
engage artists, citizens, visitors
and organizations, heighten public perceptions, awareness and sustain strategic growth.
Major Current Issues:
Communication /
Technology – varying hardware
and skill levels, limited resources
Perceived importance of Relay Info to Public
Perceived importance of organizations
State of city affairs and perception of city of Flint
Appropriate Networking vehicle – determining how
best to accomplish communications.
Venue Forums – what’s available/ where to
go (artists, cultural groups, and audiences) organized
(professional) groups vs. grassroots (unknown) groups
Clearinghouse/central gathering place for info – where
is it to be handled
Marketing education for organizations
Competition politics – among different organizations,
groups, etc.
Segregated audiences – reaching general audiences
and targeted audiences
Ability to reach everyone across many barriers
Who’s going to keep this going (our team and the
whole?). We can make the plan but who implements.
Luxury goods concept theory (art is a luxury and therefore
is easily cut when money is tight). Arts and culture
are not viewed as a necessity.
Limited Resources
Organization’s to input to clearinghouse (It is
one thing to have a clearinghouse it is another to get
organizations to use it.)
Turnover of personnel / continuity – institutional
commitment necessary not only individual commitment
Cultural/arts balance to cycle – (Over emphasis
on arts and there needs to be a balance to address cultural
and arts concerns.
Willingness to collaborate / partner and take ownership
Flint Journal – lukewarm support. Sending mixed
messages.
Creative utilization of other media
Difficulty in creating alternatives
Difficulty in doing networking and collaboration
Not asking the community what they want
Funding
Audience perceptions of organizations vs. information
Arts Lobbyists / advocate (need for)
Three board issues (The issues listed above can be categorized
into the following top three categories. Technology is
a part of all the above issues.)
Communicating among arts organizations
Communicating among media relations
Communicating with the public
Technology wraps around all of these
Opportunity and Resources
Churches have many excellent artists (non-professional
/ unknown)
Tapping into the grassroots
Positioning art as education integrated into education
process
Neighborhood Assoc, churches, etc.
Schools (K through 12 and up)
People already well-positioned to promote arts in their
sphere of influence
Market outside of the area to promote the wealth of the
talent pool
We have a gold mine of arts resources
Development of media / adv. Co-op
Obstacles
Funding Resources
Is what we are offering what audiences want
Perception that “the arts” (in the cultural
center) is for rich white people vs. what’s being
done at the grassroots is legitimate art.
How do we educate and blend (non-professional with professional
events, getting people who attend professional activities
to attend non-professional events, and vice versa.
Fixed mind sets
Negative focus in what we tell ourselves and each other,
need to shift to the positive
Are we a hospitable place for artists to come to? Question:
does this item belong in networking concerns?
CONCLUSION AND
WRAPUP
Major Issues
Communication
- among arts organizations
- with the public
- media relations
Technology wraps around all of the above
Opportunities and Obstacles are the same
