I don’t often post on a Saturday, but when I do…I usually have a hodge podge of thoughts craving to get out onto the page.

This Saturday, I woke up, checked my email, and I found my way to a KGNU show called “A Public Affair” hosted by The Community Foundation (Boulder County) on the fourth Monday of the month. The topic for the May 22nd show was Boulder County Arts and Cultural Community. Three guests from our arts community discussed the current arts advocacy issues for the arts in general, and how the current events affect our local sector. I invite you to have a listen since there are valuable sound bites, and I believe what has been said here will echo what is currently being discussed in your neck of the woods.

Thought 1: The value of the Arts is key to support of the arts. Arts support us in our everyday lives. Why is it so difficult for people to value the arts every day? The sooner we get to the nitty-gritty of this thought, the easier it will be to build audiences and support for the arts.

I also found this tribute to Clara Schumann: 5 of the best works by Clara Schumann. This article made me realize that audience development for women artists can be retroactive. There are artists of late, women artists, that have yet to be discovered, and they deserve an audience too. Audience development is not only for the living and the new, but also for long forgotten talent of our ages.

Thought 2: In regard to building current audiences, perhaps featuring the overlooked, talented (women) artists of the past could bring new energy and much needed arts equality for today and the future.

Lastly, thoughts of branding and connecting on social media are swirling in my mind. I have always been an advocate for proper branding to attract the right audiences to you. I also see that we have lost a conversational connection with people on social media. Let’s bring these two thoughts together!

Thought 3: If branding is your public voice for attracting an audience, brand properly by having authentic conversations with people again on social media. The conversations should be part of the branding process!

Marketing alone will not assure connection with the very people that will connect with your art. Why not brand properly, with conversations on social media, to guarantee connection.

I hope you enjoy this wonderful weekend, and as always, feel free to reply with your own thoughts.

Cheers to happy any loyal audiences,
Shoshana

Shoshana Fanizza
Chief Audience Builder, Audience Development Specialists