IDEAS Collaborative: Initiative to Develop and Engage Audiences in Syracuse

 

The goal of the IDEAS Collaborative (Initiative to Develop and Engage Audiences in Syracuse) is to strengthen arts, culture, and heritage organizations and the creative sector in Onondaga County through engagement strategies that will increase participation, identify new audience market segments, and uncover opportunities for cooperative activity and resource sharing.

The IDEAS theory of change is grounded in the belief that arts and culture are not separate from the community’s overall health but an integral part of it - a vibrant arts and cultural sector is not a community luxury, but a necessity. Current transactional relationships between funders and the arts and between the arts organizations and their audiences need to be redefined and developed into relationships that speak to true partnerships defined by a universally shared value statement - - that a vital community is engaged in all levels of creative engagement, from making to participating and supporting, and this engagement positively ensures growth in quality of life, economic opportunity, education, tourism and civic life.

 

After a 9-month long study of existing and potential audiences and community engagement possibilities, Surale Phillips of Decision Support Partners submitted a report on February 2011. These results, and her recommendations, are below.

An Executive Summary of the Phase 1 Report may be downloaded HERE.

  A Full Summary may be downloaded HERE

 

Out of the recommendations there emerged a multi-year initiative that utilizes research and extended consultant expertise to support community-wide comprehensive marketing efforts, the re-emergence of an energized arts council, and audience development and collaborative strategies for individual participant organizations.

A fund for the implementation of IDEAS strategies has been established at the Central New York Community Foundation. All participating IDEAS organizations have received individual market analysis and technical assistance in guiding them towards new or enhanced audience development strategies. A community-wide marketing strategy and a re-energized arts council is coming soon.

An example of one of the new partnerships that developed out of the IDEAS Collaborative can be seen here

  If you want to keep informed of upcoming events or want to learn more, email IDEAScollaborative@gmail.com.

 

  Funded by

 

 

 

      

 

 
 

Click here for a list of participating organizations 

Click here for press release announcing the Collaborative 

Click here to visit the Decision Support Partners/Surale Phillips' website; www.suralephillips.com.