by Jennifer Potter Hayes
VIEW is completing its 5th summer season in the new building, and it has been a very successful summer.
Most programs are well attended, attendance has increased, and VIEW is becoming the cultural destination that has been our goal since we moved to the new facility.
This weekend we welcome approximately 43 Plein Air artists to town to paint in our region. Each has volunteered to donate one of their framed paintings for a live auction on Saturday, September 5.
This is one of VIEW’s most successful fundraisers of the year.
And still to come, we are organizing a three-day Music Festival with three live bands, dancing, dinner, a Gospel service with local gospel choir and jazz brunch.
This is something new we are trying in hopes of building VIEW’s reputation as a performance destination.
Running Colors and a Brewfest in October are also on the docket. The Brewfest is sponsored by the Back Door and Fulton Chain Brewery.
This year, VIEW has focused on marketing to expand our geographic reach and to increase attendance, ticket sales and artists’ entries in juried exhibits.
In January, VIEW received a $40,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Oneida and Herkimer Counties to help underwrite the marketing initiative.
After reviewing RFP’s from marketing firms, VIEW selected Tim Trainor from Utica to advise and execute a new marketing plan.
The first priority was to overhaul VIEW’s website, to make the site mobile app-friendly and to streamline ticket sales and class registrations.
In addition a new calendar shows what is happening each day so guests can easily plan their visits around activities at the arts center.
The new site was implemented in August and the staff is working through the last glitches. We welcome feedback!
In addition to the website, VIEW is expanding its use of social media to market programming.
Analytics show that this is already having a positive effect on attendance.
The opening reception for the National Watercolor Exhibit attracted a record crowd of more than 450, about 150 more than were expected.
Several performances have sold out several days in advance, and daily attendance has increased.
A new Strategic Funding Committee has been formed to review long-term strategic options in regards to our financial position.
We are reaching out to local, county, state and federal officials to explore options that may be available to VIEW in the public arena. We know that absent debt ($25,000/month mortgage), VIEW is self-sustaining with revenue from programs, membership, annual giving, grants and other development initiatives. VIEW is committed to staying open year-round to be accessible to local residents through the heart of the winter.
This year, in addition to our regular programs, we will be offering a weekly Open Mic night and a “classic” movie night. The movie night is planned together with Bob Card at the Strand Theatre.
And we will continue a monthly painting and wine workshop that attracted 24 participants in August!