What Members Want - Results of the Creativity Survey

For members of the Creativity Performing Arts Group, who have participated in our survey, the consensus among participants, is they want the following services from our group:

·         Guidance and online support

·         Networking

·         Business Support

·         Partnerships

·         Marketing and promotion

·         Fundraising

·         Education

·         Campaigning and lobbying for the arts

·         Workshops and Conferences

·         Webinars

·         Showcases and Community Engagement

In response to these requests, I have the following suggestions:

Networking

For networking, I think that Linkedin is a good starting point. I have personally introduced some members to one another, based on their requirements, and members are quite welcome to approach one another for connections. Members have also indicated that they are prepared to use Facebook, hence why I have set up a Facebook page for Creativity:

https://www.facebook.com/Creativity-Performing-Arts-Group-625380381164918

Guidance and Online Support

Participants have said they would like online guidance, problem solving and promotion for members. For example a shared page for Frequently Asked Questions may be useful for members to contribute questions and answers to. This is why I have pushed for a team blog, where members can promote their businesses, share ideas, and solve problems together. A resource that is uniquely focused on the needs of our group would be a good plan in the long term.

But the best way to start is with an existing respurce, and having spoken to one media expert in our group, the following platform has been recommended:

 https://medium.com


Conferences and Workshops

Members have requested that we hold conferences and events: which is why I had pushed for the Zoom conference. As it turns out technical issues prevented members from coming together to discuss face to face, which was a missed opportunity. Nevertheless, as most members are in agreement, I will continue to arrange conferences, through Skype and other means, so that we may build towards Webinars and other resources.

All participants to the survey said they were prepared to travel to events in other countries, which means it should be quite possible for our group to host international events for members in the near future. In the early stages, I believe one of our members’ venues will need to play host. (If you would like to volunteer your venue for a workshop or conference, please message me or the group on LinkedIn.) The host could book a slot, and cover the overheads of the event; while attendees would need to cover their travelling expenses. Eventually, we could devise a subscription service to cover both these expenses, but I believe this is the best arrangement for now. 

And, because we are connected to people around the world, venue owners of our group should consider creating an international touring circuit for their artists. I believe that there is serious potential for this to help many of our members' performers.

Fundraising

Funding and fundraising are also hot topics for our group: indeed, one of our members is in the process of raising a large scale investment for an important project of hers. There are many tried and tested methods of fundraising, and access to funding, that our members can advise on. What I also think would help is asset-sharing. If we view our group as a giant production company, we will see that there are many resources held in our members venues and companies that could be used effectively to save on overheads.  For example, physical assets like costumes, scenery, lighting and sound rigs, and many other assets, could be exchanged, shared and traded; if we coordinate our efforts and make formal agreements between members. I understand that members' business interests, contracts and logistical issues may make this difficult; but I urge members who are looking to save resources, to consider working with one another, as a solution.

Campaigning

Our international membership makes a strong case for lobbying, for members’ artistic causes. I am glad to see that members like the idea of campaigns and lobbying for arts issues: including the place of arts in education. I personally want our politicians and my fellow businesspeople to respect the arts, and wholeheartedly agree with campaigning and lobbying for this in the long term.

The Next Steps

Having taken all of the above into account, I believe we should start making small steps to make this happen. For example, members are welcome to access the links on this article, to post content and get exposure. I will also push for another conference for members to discuss face to face with one another, and agree on what we will do next. If you have a date in mind for this, please contact me, and we can set this in motion.

Small steps make big strides. Let's begin.