BC Arts Service Organizations, 1997
Joint e-communications planning


Encouraged by an impending decline in government funding, seven BC arts service organizations commissioned a study to investigate ways in which they might cooperate to provide services to their members more cost effectively, particularly in terms of communications. The seven organizations represented the performing, literary and visual arts as well as heritage component of the culture business. The programs of each of the organizations were analysed, with particular attention to the delivery of information. The management of each organization was interviewed in person, and a number of members of each organization, chosen to provide a good cross section of members' and regional concerns, were interviewed by phone. Discussions were also held with stakeholders in government agencies and with experts in the computer/internet field.

The investigation revealed quite different organizations serving diverse constituencies. The study suggested how two or three organizations might cooperate on individual projects, but concluded that the organizations should pursue shared services on the basis of what it is possible to accomplish and not merely on the basis that all seven should be involved. In this regard the integration of the seven organizations' approach to their internet communications programs was identified as having the most likely chance of success.

On the basis of the report, the Consortium applied for and received funding from the Provincial Government to upgrade their individual websites, to link them into a virtual cultural super-site and to establish a newsgroup for the provision of information and the discussion of cultural issues of concern to British Columbians. The result is found at

http://www.artsconnect.bc.ca/