A website is not, however, a digital strategy

Via the folks at the ADVICE Project, this article had me at the word 'digital creep'. Here's just a few bits that piqued my interest...

It’s not just about the website – arts organisations should wake up to the wider possibilities of the digital world, says Susi O’Neill.

"I am shaping a holistic map of how it could use digital tools across the organisation: in internal communications, project management, collaboration with trainees and social marketing to improve communication with participants and stakeholders.

We identified existing activities and looked at how to integrate these into a new website that can be accessible to anyone, anywhere, on any device: photos from workshops will be shared on Flickr, a YouTube channel will display documentaries that currently sit on the shelf and mailshots will become blog posts. Website news will be moved onto Twitter, augmenting Threshold’s reach through automated, integrated tools. The new website will position it as a creative curator, exhibiting media in carefully crafted collections. Content hosted on social networking sites will be reintegrated into the main website which acts as a ‘hub’ for activity happening wherever its audiences are. A website is not, however, a digital strategy, and we are considering how to create a community of interest around Threshold’s diverse participants to provide ongoing support.

There’s a fear of the unknown in this realm. We need to form new relationships and create a genuine, meaningful depth of engagement in the online world for both audiences, artists and stakeholders. This is about a culture shift which is both challenging and exciting for the future of Threshold.”

Time to think...(and drink)

This week's mini Tessitura conference in Sydney went down like a treat. My presentation went well (everybody loved the Prezi software I used...more comments on that than the actual presentation content itself!), others gave inspiring presentations and it was great to be back catching up with all 'Tessy nerds' as well as friends and colleagues from around Australia and NZ. A great highlight from me was also having one presenter I deeply admire stop me and express sadness that my presentation was on the same time as hers...I was thinking the exact same thing!

When reflecting on the day I was struck with two things:

• time to think

A day away from the office, but not a wasted one. When else do you get a chance to stand back, to listen, to reflect, to get the grey matter mulling over different scenarios and really delve into the questions of are we making the best use of our technology? The deeper question of course is are well doing all we can? What are we doing well and what could we be doing better? Time to think is grand, now if we could only schedule in some time to play and let those ideas develop we would be onto winner I think.

• inspiring peeps

The conference and those mini catch ups you do with friends old and new is the type of communication and work process I like best. Inspiring and passionate people with vastly different skill sets to my own but all with a care for the end result. Yes we always don't agree about the one best way something might be completed, but there is a wish to assist each other, to work through a problem sorting it into logical parts and an attempt to innovate while ensuring the work we do now is flexible enough to adapt to the demands of the future. Got a problem, ask the brains trust!

Add in the fact these people are generally fun to work with and love a good debrief at the pub...and the whole experience was just about perfect. Surely these types of gatherings coupled with time after them to reflect and think is where both innovation and professional development spring?

#bbfuture or Realising Our Broadband Future

Hmmmm not so sure about the logo design above, but the wrap up is beginning on the two day Federal Government forum hosted by UNSW (and supported by numerous twitter and wiki inputs) to gather thoughts and strategies for (drum roll) 'Realising Our Broadband Future' (said with an eerie space is the final frontier type voice over...well at least in my head it was).

Again here is another example of what happens when even big brother is not sure of how to move forward digitally. But is anyone else seeing the pattern? All this online contribution to source a way forward is actually paving the path? Webcasts, twitter streams, wiki use...

Conroy: #bbfuture has more than 60,000 people on the wikis, generated over 3,300 Tweets & over 25,000 hits to the video live stream

Perhaps joram10 says it best...

@joram10 #bbfuture What a top experience - sitting in my office on the Sunshine Coast but participating as if I were there - sign of things to come.

See the Government site here where you can watch webcasts or listen on demand or perhaps browse the compiled wiki here or if you are on twitter search for #bbfuture

An Age column worth the reading...if you can find it online!

In the space of a month, two columns written by Marcus Westbury for The Age have just clicked with me. Unfortunately The Age doesn't necessarily like to have these online and searchable for everyone...imagine free content online and available to all! (I'm sure Marcus would appreciate the irony...)

Anyhow...thanks to a certain gorgeous publicist and her keen clipping skills these have landed in my lap. Once there is was 10 seconds on Google to track down the man himself. So I present, Marcus Westbury's recent columns that fell into my lap and just clicked...

• It's time to liberate collections from their dusty confines and share them in the spirit of enriching us all (EDIT: Monday 24th August - now online!)
• Is the flagship arts company destined to be a relic of the 20th century?

Can't fault a Falk...

This was courtesy of a Nina Simon tweet, but being a fan of Falk...(where's Dierking?) this book will certainly have to make it onto my reading list something soonish.

Thriving in the knowledge age: new business models for museums

and other cultural institutions

Ozco Marketing Summit 2009 videos

I was lucky enough to be substituted into this event on the closing day. Again I found this an inspiring summit to be part of, in particular my writing hand was very busy during the digital media presentations. In case you missed this, the videos are now available. I'm definitely going back to see those I missed such as 'Communicating with the 50+ audience' and the update from the 'ADVICE' program, and I might even relive Donna Williams' inspiring key notespeech from Day Two, there's an audience development hero for you!

Find all the videos here: http://vimeo.com/user1014372

Wiki world....Smithsonian Web and New Media Strategy v1.0

Great idea, both using a wiki format and putting this info out there for the world. It is nice to an institution state openly that they don't have all the answers, and seeking interaction and outside opinion in planning. Can't wait to see how it plays out.

Smithsonian Web and New Media Strategy v1.0

'We've just posted Smithsonian Web and New Media Strategy, Version 1.0. The strategy talks about an updated digital experience, a new learning model that helps people with their "lifelong learning journeys," and the creation of a Smithsonian Commons—a new part of our digital presence dedicated to stimulating learning, creation, and innovation through open access to Smithsonian research, collections and communities.

This strategy was created through a fast and transparent process that included workshops, the Smithsonian 2.0 conference, Twitter, YouTube, and ongoing collaboration through this wiki. It's a work in progress, and we welcome your comments, questions, and input, via the Smithsonian 2.0 blog or through any discussion tab on this wiki site. This strategy will feed into the Smithsonian’s comprehensive strategic plan, currently under development.'