Websites

This article explains the goods and the bads of creating websites through website creation platforms like, wix.com, google sites,maestro webuilder, and wordpress. It is true that you can create them in an hour or so, but you really need to have all the material you want to use ready. I am not very tech savvy, and I found it to be very frustruating, because you cannot have too much information on it, or you dont always have the ability to change font, size, color. However, I know of people that used these tools and are very happy with the results.
http://www.technologyinthearts.org/?p=1773#more-1773

Is Direct Mail Dead?

Given the statistics on online donations, some may argue that non-profit organizations should shift their development and marketing dollars away from direct mail. Articles, like the one below, discuss the rise in online giving among various demographic groups, including those above the age of 65. Is this the end of direct mail for non-profits? Probably not. Although online giving has become significantly more popular, there is no denying that there are many who still like to receive solicitations and information by mail. I think the balance between the two options has more to do with the budget of the organization, and whether historical data has shown that direct mail has been effective within the institution's core and peripheral audiences.

http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/internet-giving-grows-in-popularity-with-older-americans/29977

Digital surfacing

Jacob Slevin states that digital surfacing will emerge as a leading material and surface in the coming years and that the opportunity with digital surfacing is: "1. the ability to deploy a non-static finish (alternative to paint, wallpaper, wood paneling, stone), and challenge patrons to consume dynamic spatial boundaries, and (2) the notion of teleportation, whereas patrons are potentially in two locations at once, experiencing two environments at once, a duality between here and anywhere."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-slevin/trend-forecasting-digital_b_859200.html

The joy of drawing

Yet another example of social media and technology trends that allow to bring out the artist in everyone. I love that people from all around the world are experimenting art as a group thanks to technology and that viewers can easily have access to great, diverse, amateur, and masterpieces of art.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/05/17/prweb8435292.DTL

Is the web site dead?

This article talks about fast paced technology trends. It also mentions how arts organizations need to be quick and move forward with technology always keeping up to date on what is to come. What to choose from when talking about mobile apps, which platform to develop it on; iOS, Android and mobile websites. Another good point in the article is the transparency we should have with patrons with regards to privacy policies. Arts organization should keep in mind all this and at the same time be strategic about it, it is time consuming. Some organizations even have staff positions strictly focused on these subjects and tasks.
http://artsmarketing.org/resources/article/2011-01/top-technology-trends-what%E2%80%99s-ahead-arts-marketers-2011?utm_source=MagnetMail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=barryarts@comcast.net&utm_content=amo_e-blast_Top_Technology_Trends_01_06_11&utm_campaign=Top%20Technology%20Trends%3A%20What's%20Ahead%20for%20Arts%20Marketers%20in%202011

Sustained return

This is an interesting article about social media and other marketing and sales tools. It says there is not much success given that the return is a meager 2%. In the arts, I believe a 2% increase in revenue or a 2% increase in audience attendance is a good deal, especially when the up-front cost is minimal to nothing. Yes, it is true that social media is time consuming and that in small organizations it tends to exhaust your staff. Is it a great success, perhaps not great. However it helps move forward.
Applying this statement to arts organizations, "You may see a bigger bump in sales from something like Groupon--but only on a temporary basis," For arts organization this means that you have (hopefully) a lasting impact, and isn't this the purpose of art, a lasting impact?
http://www.fastcompany.com/1746838/facebook-places-foursquare-social-medias-tiny-2-impact-on-businesses?partner=homepage_newsletter

Is this thinking outside the box or what?

We hear a lot about changing our traditional business methods in the arts, that the lack of funding is breaking us apart, and there are great discussions on product delivery.
This man, Eric Whitacre, is taking an art form, that we usually relate it to Sunday Church, and he is delivering it to the world, he is modernizing it, he is making it vibrant and accessible. He is bringing singers together that perhaps never would of had the opportunity to sing in a choir, and he made their dreams come true.
http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong.html

Doodle

http://blog.artsusa.org/2011/05/11/google-celebrates-martha-graham/#more-8407
I am always intrigued when google creates logos in their main page. What a great way to mass educate the public on art, history, etc. What I did not know was that google sponsors annual contests. I especially like that at the end of the very short article they state: " It’s nice to see one of the most powerful companies in the world leading by example and devoting a little time to creativity and the arts. It’s certainly a model that we all should encourage other corporations to follow"

Process or Product?

If I am in Boston I would like to shake this man's hand as well. In talking about how can art be sustainable by itself he states " “celebrity will disappear, and all that will be left are micro-cultures” (cough Kickstarter projects cough) that can and will sustain themselves. He believes that for an artist, it’s the process not the product that is the art (cough Kickstarter projects cough)."
My experience with very small organization is that they are focused in marketing initiatives, events, attracting new, younger audiences, but they seem not to focus on what people really want to see or hear. Focus on the art in itself and enjoy the process!
http://blog.kickstarter.com/post/5455315660/studio-visit-with-moore-patterns-jeff-lieberman-moore

http://www.jsonline.com/features/technology/119504599.html
I do not really understand how this technology works. However, what amazes me is that
a student "works on an interactive sculpture called "MindSpike." His headset senses brainwave activity and then moves a magnetic oil inside the sculpture"..."showing how technology can be harnessed as a basic building block of craft and creation"

The Technology Chalenge

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-kaiser/the-technology-challenge_b_816170.html
This is very true, that many arts organization do not take advantage of technology. In the arts, this is not limited to organization, but also artists or informal groups. There seems to be fear in exposing their talents. There is so much money that can be saved by advertising online. Also, websites or other social media tools can be updated constantly to, as Mr. Kaiser says "Educate thousands upon thousands of potential audience members and donors at virtually no cost."

The Library of Congress and the National Jukebox

I just read the article: National Jukebox website logs 1 million page views, 250,000 streams in under 48 hours by Randy Lewis of the LA Times.

Here's the link for the article:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/05/national-jukebox-library-congress-sony-music-1.html

Apparently the Library of Congress has made over 10,000 recordings in their recordings archive collection available on-line. This is the coolest thing I think I've ever heard. The collection that is currently available includes selections for multiple genres including jazz, blues, ethnic folk, gospel, pop, spoken word, comedy, and other genres dating to the early 20th century. The National Jukebox is a coordinated effort between the Library of Congress and Sony Music.

Here's the link to check out the actual jukebox:

http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/

Bravo!

Expanding Public Exposure: Interactive Art Databases

New technology is expanding exposure to art. Using the internet, arts organizations can provide broad access to works that were once only available to those who could be physically present to interpret them. This development of new technology, like interactive online databases, opens opportunities for collaboration between artists, institutions and organizations like never before.

MuralFarm.org is an example of a sophisticated interactive database showcasing community murals produced by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. A user can interact with each artwork, looking at the work as a whole or choosing to view specific parts in isolation. A viewer can also learn the story behind each creation. With the opportunity to view these murals online, those unable to travel to Philadelphia can now experience the community's history and artwork in a new way.

http://muralfarm.org/Muralfarm/

http://explorer.muralarts.org/#/browse

Pittsburgh's Day of Giving

Now in its second year, the PittsburghGives.org provides an opportunity for people to donate to their favorite non-profit organizations through one simple portal. donors can give anytime during the year, but on the designated Day of Giving, all donations made are matched by The Pittsburgh Foundation and other foundations. During this day, organizations & TPF offer giving stations all over the city, as well as up-to-the-minute updates through social media.

They had issues the first year. The portal was not simple enough and instead of a 24-hour window with gift pro-rated, they did a first-come, first-served dollar-for-dollar match that had people flooding the site and overloading it.

This year, they did a second Day of Giving targeted towards arts organizations. I love this idea, not because of the money that's brought it but because of the unified sense of community & support of our arts world in Pittsburgh (and, boy, do we need that).

Here's an article

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11133/1146152-325.stm?cmpid=theater.xml

From the Page to the Screen: The Poetry Projection Project

An intersting idea for melding various medias and artforms.

http://www.arts.gov/artworks/?p=7172

Technology's enchantments at Boston Cyberarts Festival

The 2011 Boston Cyberarts Festival uses exhibits, performances, workshops and concerts that use technology in one way or another for aesthetic purposes. Please view the article for more details on the way technology is incorporated into different pieces throughout the festival.

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2011/05/04/boston_cyberarts_festival_artists_use_technology_to_a_variety_of_aesthetic_ends/

Missed Potential of Blogs

In my opinion, many smaller organizations fail to use blogs to their fullest potential; not updating frequently enough, not utilizing pictures or video and not allowing the blog to act as a tool to benefit the organization. But Greater Reston Arts Center seems to understand the criticalness of the blog as a form of communication. GRACE's blog establishes a model for all small arts organizations.

As opposed to popular forms of social media, which only provide snippets of information, a blog is a platform to tell a story. GRACE’s blog serves as a window to the organization, allowing audience newcomers to connect with the organization, while providing long-time audience members with detailed information about programming and exhibitions. It instills the organization with a sense of transparency not possible through other forms of communication or online media.

Don't overlook blogging as a critical form of communication or its dynamic potential.

Online Donations - Keep it Simple!

I am sure that many of you have already had this discussion in your fundraising classes, but I would like to bring it up for anyone that hasn't. We often discuss ways to use technology to help our organization with its marketing, fundraising, and operational efficiency. However, technology plans that are not implemented properly can sometimes have the opposite effect. For example, donation pages on an organization's website that are intended to increase online donations can only be successful if they are easy to use and navigate. After having to research the online donation pages for several arts organizations, I realized that many of them are poorly organized, unnecessarily cumbersome to complete, and ultimately discourage potential users from finishing their transactions (simply because the process is annoying).

So, I have one thing to say to any of you that have some influence over the format of your organization's online giving tools - keep it simple. User friendly donation interfaces will ultimately help your organization raise more money and keep your online donors happy.

3-D Printing

Maker Bot is a new desktop 3-D printing device that prints plastic 3-D objects. The technology has been around for about 20 years but it's been recently redesigned to be more user-friendly and compact. Creative ability is now within the grasp of many people with a few thousand dollars to spare.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/arts/design/makerbot-is-a-new-3-d-printer.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Crowdrise

Although the arts are not a charity, many arts organizations conduct campaigns to raise money for charitable causes. Here's a pretty innovative site that raises money for a variety of organizations.

http://www.crowdrise.com/

A Novel Thought

Networked learning has taken off in a variety of forms, most notably wikipedia. Taking some of the concepts from the blog post, what are some ways non profit arts organizations can incorporate public networked learning into their education programming? Suppose a forum called wikiarts was established where arts organizations specifically discuss their craft and their importance to the overall field of the visual and performing arts.

http://www.bethkanter.org/bloom-public-learnin/

Improving Grant Making Strategies using Social Media

More than creating a facebook page, non profit organizations need to focus more on capacity building and improving grant making strategies through social media. Too often non profits are not able to virtually engage their potential funding audience; the post below illustrates some ways these deficiencies can be remedied.

http://www.bethkanter.org/cep11/

IT a top Priority for the current presidential administration

The Obama administration is making a point to capitalize on information technology. This article makes several interesting points, mainly that the "information technology sector has been underutilized by public and social sectors". The article makes the following points that non-profits should consider in this connected world:
(taken from: Information Technology and Social Progress)

What problem are we trying to use IT to solve, and is it plausible that IT can make a real difference?

· What metrics should be used to evaluate the effectiveness of an IT-enabled solution?

· What are the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in the design, development, evaluation, and scale-up of IT applications with social benefits?

· If some applications of IT have high social returns and modest or uncertain private returns, can companies attract financing from "impact investors" who are generally willing to accept a lower financial return if the social return is sufficiently compelling?

· How can the public sector be a better customer for IT applications that help address societal challenges? How might different public sector users (e.g. large school districts, state employment agencies) pool their demand?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thomas-kalil/information-technology-an_b_860582.html?ref=email_share

Museum as a film experience

http://www.artsjournal.com/realcleararts/2011/05/antwerp-museum-experience.html

The more we try to innovate - the more things start to look the same. Now a museum is trying to create a full sensory experience - utilizing technology to transport the viewer to a new level. Is all of the technology really a benefit to the art, or is it actually detracting from the art itself. Is the intrinsic value of the art cheapened by all of the technological additives?

Spiderman the Musical

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/theater/revamped-spider-man-returns-with-just-a-few-glitches.html?adxnnl=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1305507850-+uXrsOkUbInsFZre4xSjoQ

It seems that after months and months of anticipation - the time has finally arrived for Spiderman to be revealed. Here we see Art and Technology merging in ways never seen before. From the technical elements of the stage design to the intricate rigging systems flying actors around the stage - it seems that the arts are grabbing hold of the mystery and excitement caused by increasing their technological experience. One has to wonder, where is the theater world headed with such big buck productions as Spiderman. The technology costs are supremely high - but is the art equal caliber to the price of the production and therefore the price of admission?

Opera and Technology

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/set-glitch-delays-metropolitan-operas-global-telecast-by-35-minutes-to-millions-of-listeners/2011/05/14/AFB5am3G_story.html?wprss=rss_entertainment

A very cool idea for a set - but only if it is working. Also, people who are working on these sets - the opera singers - are going to have to get with the program better if they are going to really pull off making opera accessible and modern for the average opera goer. If you have people falling off the stage and sets not working properly, they're hardly going to be willing to pay $250 a seat for a 5 hour long performance.

Is opera just the wrong place for this technological infiltration? Is it best to just stick with the classical sets and singers? Right now, the spectacle is becoming the technology, not the artistry of the singers.

Romance Novels - The Success of the Ebook

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/romancing-the-tablet-how-harlequin-is-revolutionizing-the-e-book-market/article2021256/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGlobeAndMail-Entertainment+%28The+Globe+and+Mail+-+Arts+News%29

Though rarely considered an art, steamy romance novels seem to be driving sales in the ebook territory. What's next, soap operas? If only the arts could find a way to sell as successfully as these trashy novels, we would be onto something big.

In an earlier post I mentioned how it would be interesting to have people on sets using ebooks and ereaders for updated script changes etc. I maintain that this is still a plausible utility for these items and that it would probably be smarter for more arts orgs. to invest in ereaders.

It would even make more sense to start using them in the visual arts world where you could have a carry along guide that you could utilize while viewing exhibits.

Technology vs. Fundraising

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/social.media/05/11/netiquette.thankyous/index.html

An interesting commentary about when and how it is appropriate to thank someone and under what conditions.

In terms of the arts world - it might be a smarter model for arts orgs. to start utilizing the web more with instant thank you letters as well as tax letters to help out donors.

Significant gifts would still be requiring a personal touch - but are arts orgs missing the boat on this newly accepted cultural phenomenon?

Music in the clouds

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/05/13/future.music.taylor/index.html

Google joins the race in an attempt to get users to live stream from music databases - clouds - like Amazon's Cloud Drive.

In a day and age where music is everywhere - pumping out of radio stations for free - or at a price for XM or Satellite Radio - why would people pay more to have their music stored somewhere else?

With the advent of the ipod, people are treating their music collections differently - is the Cloud just the new wave of the future that we are all going to have to embrace sooner than later?

Turning Crowds into Computers

At the Workshop on Crowdsurfing and Human Computation, researchers spent their time determining whether or not the processing units in computers can be human brains rather than silicon chips.

The discussion focused on the fact that computers can do a plethora of things that the human brain can also, only faster....while the complex level of thought the human brain itself undergoes when solving problems, for example, can sometimes be worth the time it takes.

Websites on the Fly

Social media is all the rage these days, but many arts organizations have failed to create or update their own individual WEBSITES that carry all the need-to-know information about performance or class offerings---the bare bones, the important stuff aside from all of the bells and whistles of a twitter update or iphone app.

This article highlights some great URLs to be used for starting a website:

Saving Digital Art from Technological Change

The technology we now have available to us for experiencing the arts is ever-changing by the day. While most view these new technologies as perfect for providing access to the arts for all who may not otherwise have access, some digital age mavens fear that some of the earliest works of art created on the computer are in danger of being lost while new digital artworks are so complex that they are unable to be preserved.

In digital art, the key is to find ways of preserving the color and visual aspects of piece of art---which is made hard when, over the course of a 20-30 year working life, the software we use is made obselete or replaced by something new and cutting edge that may not be able to support the work of art in its original form.

A How To on Bolstering Subscription Sales...

Yet another arts organization is giving its audience more power over choosing its season in an effort to bolster community engagement and keep the cash coming in. Smart, I say.

The Theatre Royal Stratford East's new OPEN STAGE program, a public consultation project that began in September 2010, allows patrons to go online and vote for or suggest plays, musicals, and pantos they'd like to see at the theatre.

This is an interesting tactic to consider when looking at the subscription decline across many arts organizations in the U.S. If the patrons were, in essence, choosing an arts organization's entire season of theatre one would assume they would ultimately subscribe to it, therefore bolstering income. The question then comes into play regarding whether or not the overall artistic product would then suffer?

Me Me Art Engages Technology

http://zimbojam.com/culture/harare-international-festival-of-the-arts/2550-me-me-art-engages-technology.html

This new, fascinating combination of art and technology, featured at the National Arts Gallery, displays a unique experience as audience members watch a dancer inclosed in a transparent wall control the electronic music as her body moves. Attached to movement sensors, the dancer's motions serve as the link between the audience and the dancer. Audience members have an opportunity to interact with the dancer as their actions influence the dancer's movement.

Check out the article for more information.

Yale-free online access to museum and library collections

This article discusses how Yale University "has achieved the goal of making its collections available online to students, scholars, and the general public, in a free and open-access environment, is a splendid achievement that we hope will inspire other colleges and universities internationally to follow suit."

With more universities and museums beginning to make their collections more digitally accessible what will that mean for non-profits? Will there be an expectation to make everything digital?

http://articles.boston.com/2011-05-11/news/29532887_1_collections-yale-center-british-art

Listen to Music While You Read

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/books/to-help-sell-books-publishers-add-a-soundtrack/article2017364/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheGlobeAndMail-Entertainment+%28The+Globe+and+Mail+-+Arts+News%29

I recently read the article, To help sell books, publishers add a soundtrack by MARSHA LEDERMAN VANCOUVER of the Globe and Mail. It is a common sense article about how advances in digital technology are allowing eBooks to be marketed with an accompanying soundtrack through digital download. It seems to me like the natural next step in on-line marketing to combine words and music. The author does make the point in saying that not all books would lend themselves well to added music. Additionally, those that can be enhanced with music still need to be carefully paired for the best affect. One example given in the article is the paring of music to the biography of Bruce Springsteen. They choose to use music refenced in the book that was not written by Bruce Springsteen as well as rare takes of music by Springstten himself.

I think this is a wonderful idea. It gives you the opportunity to experience a book through another sensory experience thus enhancing the experience as a whole.

Well done!

You tube

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/04/youtube-poised-to-expand-movie-offerings-in-bid-to-challenge-apple-amazon.html

Youtube is getting ready to offer on-demand movies - so as to compete with other large names like Apple and Amazon.

Is this new on-demand lifestyle a trend or something that will stay with us forever? As our lives become more and more jam packed - are we going to be seeking out all of these alternatives to sitting down at a specified time to catch a show? Can a company which has had such tremendous success with 10 minute or less clips like Youtube really garner the attention of the masses that have already gone to other companies that are more established in this type of delivery system?

e- books

http://www.jeffbullas.com/2011/04/20/are-book-publishers-dying-e-book-sales-increase-by-300/

E-books are the new wave of the future. This article discusses how the rise in online sales of e-books may make the printed book obsolete and a collectors item.

It is interesting to ponder whether this will move into the world of scripts for actors. Imagine having your notes updated nightly on the reader so that all you'd have to do is upload the new version instead of read through hashed out markings on a paper script. Also, imagine how it might change the way news casts are presented - all news appearing on the e-reader instead of on paper. Updates coming immediately through the e- reader rather than through a production assistant.

Dynamic Ticket Pricing

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/04/ticketmaster_rolls_out_dynamic.html

Ticket master will now use "new technology to let artists and sports teams raise or lower ticket prices to reflect demand during the initial sales period." This is something the arts have conceived of doing when they have sell out shows like Arena Stage's most recent performance. Intriguing discussion of the other main competitors of Ticketmaster having to find new ways to compete with this new money saver for consumers.

Dziga Vertov

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704503104576251114213337004.html

An biographical article on how Dziga Vertov ended up "forever changing documentary film, creating works that still fascinate with their radical ideas about how cinema can transform perception and effect social change." Using technology to tell stories in a vivid way - different than any predecessors - this great film maker is still making art today and it is amazing how he inspires people.

Netflix killing Piracy?

http://torrentfreak.com/netflix-is-killing-bittorrent-in-the-us-110427/

An interesting thought that by making the arts and movies more accessible for a moderate and reasonable fee, people are becoming more willing to pay for services like on demand rather than pirating them from the internet. These sub-par quality movies aren't the draw that they used to be.

Handwriting - a lost art

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/us/28cursive.html

Interesting article about how writing is changing and adapting to the new ways that people think and write. That cursive writing is now a thing of the past - an art form lost - and that we are giving way to people using printing and computers which is opening people up to the potentiality of forgers.

Strategy Landscape: Strategic Philanthropy

The Strategy Landscape, created by the Monitor Institute and delivered with the Center for Effective Philanthropy, "is an interactive data visualization tool that makes it easy for users to see and understand patterns of grantmaking and strategies across multiple funders. Participants are able to see and develop a shared understanding of the larger funding landscape that they are a part of, and to recognize their position within that ecosystem."
With funding being as scarce as it is, one must wonder how many arts organizations are actually using this software to help with effectively pinpointing new sources of funding?

http://monitorinstitute.com/strategylandscape/
http://www.bethkanter.org/category/philanthropy/

Social Media Video Content

We talk a lot about IT related things that we've read, seen, or heard about on here. This week, I am posting about something I have been working on in conjunction with the Pink Line Project and the Arlington Arts Center to promote an event that I'm involved with - Critique the Critics. The idea behind the videos was to get people participating in the event to talk about each other, which would ultimately create some rather amusing content that could be published on social media sites (and have it be interesting for people to watch). Personally, I am far more likely to watch a short video than read a paragraph of text on a site like Facebook - I am fairly certain that others feel the same way.

Check out a few examples below:

http://vimeo.com/23301564
http://vimeo.com/23407576
http://vimeo.com/22924853

Leaf-Snap

http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/computer-science-and-biology-come-together-make-tree-identification-snap

This article discusses LeafSnap, a new program that allows people to take a picture of a leaf or other plant object, and within minutes get detailed information about the plant they are looking at. Although not directly related to the arts, imagine what this kind of program could do FOR the arts. If someone could take a picture of a painting or sculpture and not only get info on that particular piece, but an artist bio, other famous/related works, and suggestions on what else to look at. I think that if hand held devices are here to stay (which I'm pretty sure they are) apps/programs like this could be really helpful for museums and art galleries.

T. White

Who's Next?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/arts/news/article.cfm?c_id=544&objectid=10722762

An online arts website has launched a 3D view of 18 galleries across Australasia. The website will incorporate social media and exhibit information as a way for visitors to view the galleries and make reviews. Also, visitors can browse, purchase, and auction off items from these featured galleries. A new home for contemporary and modern arts, visitors can use this one-stop-shop website to find their art needs. This could end up being a very profitable business venture for the website owners especially once they expand their network.

Side Note: It would interest me to find out why most of these new technologies are coming from places outside of the U.S.

Virtual Global Dance Program

http://www.telepresenceoptions.com/2011/04/cisco_national_dance_institute/

Cisco, National Dance Institute and Tata communications have teamed up to create a virtual dance program for children across the world. In an effort to increase its reach, the National Dance Institute will offer dance and music programs virtually to school children across the globe. This will be the world's first virtual global dance program. Read the article to find out exactly how the technology works.

It's good to see American organizations expanding the scope of their programming to go outside of its neighboring communities to try to accomplish global impact. If proven successful, this technology could be the gateway to sharing and blending artist ideas across international lines.

Analogue artists defying the digital age

While most artists embrace the new digital age, this article discusses the stories of four artists who prefer dusty vinyl records, vintage film cameras, rickety typewriters and antiquated recording equipment. "The work of these artists is born of a dissatisfaction with digital culture's obsession with the new, the next, the instant. It values the hand-made, the detailed and the patiently skilful over the instantly upgradeable and the disposable."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/apr/24/mavericks-defying-digital-age

Establishing Your Presence Online

We talk a lot about the importance of establishing a presence for our organizations online. We discuss tips and tricks to improve our marketing reach and the effectiveness of our communications by using various social media tools like Facebook and Twitter - we don't pay enough attention to location tracking social media, though. I have recently been reading a fair amount about the importance of considering the value of location based tools like Foursquare, Facebook Places, and Google Places. Tools like Foursquare are now implementing new technology that will create suggestions for users based on past check-ins of the user and their friends. For any of you that use Foursquare, you already know that businesses utilize all kinds of incentives to increase check-in activity on this online platform - discounts on services, free cocktails, raffle prizes, and many other enticing things. Given the powerful marketing opportunities available through tools like these, we should think about ways to further engage members of our audience that already use some of the location tracking social media tools. Check out more about this on Technology for the Arts:

http://www.technologyinthearts.org/?p=1859#more-1859

Networked Nonprofits

With the variety of social media available, we often forget that being connected to too many media outlets may not necessarily be a good thing, especially if each of those social networks are not being properly maintained. The following article stresses:
"Putting the Networked Nonprofit ideas into practice and using social media and other emerging technologies will only be success if nonprofits take small, incremental and strategic steps. In this model, there are four different levels of social media practice: Crawl, Walk, Run, Fly. One level is not better than another; it is just where the organization is at with respect to becoming a networked nonprofit and agile at using social media and other emerging technologies."

http://www.bethkanter.org/c-w-r-f/