arts advocacy committee

Arts Council Meets on the second Thursday of Each month.


Advocacy Committee
October 13, 2005

Minutes
Submitted by: Jane Denick

Next Meeting:
Thursday, November 10, 7:00 P.M.
Hanby School


After a short general meeting of the Arts Council, the Advocacy Committee was challenged to determine:
What are the current ways Arts are advocated in the City of Westerville?
Who does it?
What is missing?

Current Ways Discussion
Art information is distributed by Hanby Schools.
• How can we get other schools to also distribute information?
• Can we work with PTO/PTA or the principal?
• Need to have contacts at all schools and organizations that will send us their events and also distribute information on all art events.
• Part of the challenge will be developing a method to collect the information.
• Arts Council should be “clearing house” for information. Need visual method to remind everyone of this


Websites, such as the Visitors’ Bureau, Arts Council and Gallery 202, lists art events People are unaware of all of the “free” places to list events. For example, the Visitors’ Bureau has four websites that list events, Gallery 202 has three websites.
• We need to develop an information sheet of all websites. This sheet should be distributed to all involved in the arts and encourage them to list events.
• The Parent Council may be a good place to start.

Newspapers have articles on various organizations and events.
Currently each organization is submitting articles; sometimes these are printed, depending on the space available in the paper. Goal is to have consistent articles every week, ideally multiple articles.
• Multiple articles should be submitted consistently each week.
• Articles should be “real and personal”—not just events
• Support group should be formed to call papers to let them know community wants to see articles on art. This needs to be an organized group who can be contacted when articles will appear; contact should include phone number or email of the paper.
• Would Otterbein journalism students be interested in writing the articles?


Otterbein Channel 3 tapes various events. These are shown at a later date.
Although events are taped, the community does not know when these will be shown.
• Could Otterbein have a regular program of “Westerville Arts”? Example: every Tuesday at 7:00. This information could be placed in the newspaper articles, websites and events calendars.
• Can we get tapes of the events and show these are various city functions or in the stores?
• Could we list the program schedule in the local papers?
• Can we get Otterbein radio, WOBN, to have a “Sounds of Westerville” show?
Steve Grinch will check with Otterbein to determine if they are willing to work with us on these ideas.

Additional Misc.
• Can audio CDs be used as background music for Westerville business for when customers are on hold?
• Could local celebrities be used such as Mindy Drayer or Cabot Rea.
• Could an event calendar be placed on pizza boxes and on dry cleaners bags?
• Art organization should support all art events by placing information in programs or making announcements.
• Event calendars could be distributed by girl/boy scouts.