How to enhance Shreveport's arts scene through a few digital upgrades

Southern Univ Museum at Shreveport; Daryl Mitchell's collection of 800 African-American Santa Claus figures
Originally uploaded by trudeau.

Debbie Engle - West Edge Artists Co-op - and I were discussing media and Shreveport this week. I admitted I'd like to have a conference with all the arts administrators, artists and arts-minded businesspeople of the area. Here's what I would plead:

a) Find a couple of amateur photogs in your organization. Get a steady stream of photos of your people, your activities. Email them to the media.

b) Better yet, have someone update your website each week - even each month - with brief stories and photos. That way the media can pluck what they need when they want it.

c) If the html of your web site prevents non-techies from updating your site, there is a solution. Link to a blog. SptBlog is assembled using flickr.com and blogger.com. For free. And quickly. It takes maybe 10 minutes to get started.

d) Headshots are good. Action shots are better. Think of the images you want as Eye Candy.

e) Get what we might call a New Media person to shoot brief videos (it can be done with a basic digital camera, remember) or to record sound bites. Again, you can put them on your web site. Also, send out the address to the media.

There's no reason this area should lag in digital consciousness. Unless you're content to kiss off our future . . .


By the way, have you bopped by 610 Texas to see the Southern University Museum at Shreveport display of Afro-Santa's? Maybe combine the visit with a stop at Artspace? They're one block from each other.

SUMAS;
Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m until 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m until 4 p.m.
Admission is free.
Groups are welcome, but please call 318-678-4631 for reservations.