July News From the Open Media Foundation

The mission of the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) is to advance arts and culture in the City and County of Denver. Denver is a culturally vibrant city with over 300 large and small arts and cultural organizations. DOCA supports the arts in three main ways: enhancing community space through public art, providing free cultural programs and events, and strengthening the economy by growing our creative businesses and cultural/heritage tourism. This can only happen as DOCA partners with many other city departments, local community and arts organizations and the public, to fulfill our mission. Our vision is for Denver to be known as the Creative Capital of the West.

What are the issues that you are trying to bring to a larger audience?
We know that arts and culture make a city great, but we also know that sometimes it's difficult to be engaged in what's going on. DOCA wants to make sure that everyone has access - we want everyone to participate in the arts! Whether someone is an artist in need of a studio or a loan (our program Create Denver can help), is looking for free cultural events to attend (check out the Five Points Jazz Festival, Latino Rhythms or One Book, One Denver) or simply interested in walking down the street and looking at art (the City of Denver's Public Art collection numbers over 300 pieces) DOCA is here to provide easy access.

What are some of your primary goals for 2010?
We would like everyone in Denver to read the 2010 One Book, One Denver selection (we're announcing it on September 1st.) A second key goal is to double the number of folks signed up for DENVER 2 for 1 TIX. When you sign up at www.Denver2for1Tix.com, you receive a free Wednesday email with 2 for 1 discount tickets that weekend - music, theater, movies, tours - all at half price. What are you doing this weekend? Always, DOCA continues to provide great, free, arts programs and events and serve as a resource for all things arts and culture in Denver.

What are some of the projects you have worked on with the Open Media Foundation?
Have we mentioned how much we love Open Media Foundation? Our City of Denver website is fine for listing information, but we wanted more involvement and dialogue with the public. We are super excited about our new website, www.denverartsinteractive.com. Now the public has a chance to actively participate in new ways - with contests, voting, podcasts and more. Check out the incredible architectural photos taken by the public during Doors Open Denver, the books that could be selected for the next One Book One Denver, and get ready for the next contest where you have to identify public artworks to win prizes such as iPods and work by local artists. Our Open Media Foundation website makes it a conversation with the community.

How has using television/video/web allowed your organization to reach a wider audience?
We're still figuring this out, but so far, we've noticed that people really want to get involved. They are eager to upload their photographs, vote to decide what books and bands to feature, etc. The hope is that when people are more engaged with what we do, that they will do more! We are also excited to continue to build on the platform created by Open Media Foundation to allow the public to upload video and audio (coming soon).

Anything else you would like to add?
Yes. We think Sharee and Brian are magic. There isn't any empirical evidence to back this up, but since our website worked right off the bat, it must be true.