Posted by Jaq on November 29, 1999 at 17:29:50:
Although NW ARTS has been online for a few years, we've been operating without any money at all, and no money to promote the site. The current version is only the beginning of what NW ARTS was meant to be, yet people like you have managed to find and use this site to a certain degree. Are you ready for the next level?
Even though NW ARTS has hardly been used by the bulk of the art community, there's a sudden interest in the need for such a hub or portal, fueled by possible funding from the city. I've been attending meetings with Debbi Lester of Art Access, and Jeff Mihalyo of ArtSpace, and others including people from the Seattle Arts Commission. Some of us will even be meeting with the mayor soon to find out what our options are.
People are becoming aware of NW ARTS, and we will be going through a transformation sometime soon. So far the consensus is that we'd like to keep this project within the control of artists and arts orgs if possible, rather than having it be redesigned by the city. Our concerns are censorship issues, and the general way that bureaucracy has of bogging projects down. Plus, we know what the site should be and do, because we already have some experience doing it.
We've been looking at what works and what doesn't work with NW ARTS, and sites like Art Access. NW ARTS may evolve into something else, possibly joining forces with Art Access in some way. Or we may remain here with our own domain name. One way or another there will be a place for all of us to come together, share info, and keep informed--and hopefully reach a higher level of traffic and interaction so the site is even more useful.
Feel free to E-mail me with your comments and suggestions, and check back for updates. Thanks for your support!
Jaq Chartier