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Cultural Organizations (including nonprofits)

How to Navigate CreativeGround

Are you a worker or volunteer at a cultural organization? CreativeGround has many profiles for historical societies, art centers, libraries, museums, cultural heritage organizations, and even higher education programs and municipal arts departments! CreativeGround is a free tool for New England organizations of all kinds to do the following:

  • Search for artists in your community (including Native American artists, public artists, touring artists, and teaching artists) to hire and engage with for exhibits, performances, classes, residencies, or any number of other activities 
  • Build your Network by finding potential collaborators for a creative economy project, arts exhibition, etc.
  • Share your Story (and own your voice) as a member of your local creative community and get counted in regional research and advocacy efforts
    • Data Nerd Alert: a user-generated database that actually gets used in research is very unique - this is your opportunity to grab the mic!
  • Be a community leader and help everyone thrive: Learn more in the Promo Toolkit. >
  • Show off your hard work! Advertise the breadth and depth of your organization's activities and services and demonstrate the integral role that arts and culture organizations play in making our communities vibrant places to live and grow and enjoy.
    • Specific tips below for organizational profiles below

Ready to Get Listed?

Get started on the profile for your organization by getting the step by step breakdown to:

  • Claim and update an existing profile
  • Create a new profile
Image courtesy of Arts Transcending Borders (at the College of the Holy Cross)
Updating or Creating a Profile

Pro-Tips for Profiles for Cultural Organizations

Visualize

  • A picture is worth a thousand words: for your main profile image, use a photo of your organization in action. Do not use a logo.
    • Be sure to include similar action-oriented media in your profile's gallery.
  • Fill out the 'Activities and Services' section of the profile fully to ensure users understand who you are and what you do
    • Popular selections for Cultural Organizations include services like: Marketing, Professional Development, Funding, Residency hosting, Lessons and Workshops, Producing exhibits and shows, and hosting events.
  • Share Basic Information: Talk about your Community/Audience Services: What populations do you regularly engage? What is your organization's geographic focus? What accommodations do you offer that make your services more broadly accessible? Do you offer your services in languages other than English?

Describe

  • Include a pithy description of what you do an how you do it. Think about what specific keywords someone might use to search for your organization and be sure to include those keywords in your 'Description of Work and Background'
  • No organization works alone - list your partners in the 'I Have Worked With' section. This can include artists you've presented/commissioned/supported, organizations you've collaborated with, designers and marketers who have helped promote your organization, etc.
  • Are you a presenter? Make sure to indicate if you are a member of the Arts Presenters of Northern New England (APNNE) or the New England Presenters (NEP) consortia.

Got Space?

  • If you have a venue to rent, fill out the 'Venue for Rent/Use' section with fees, features, and more
  • Highlight the accessibility features for both your programs and your venue space in the 'Accessibility of Services' and the 'Venue Available for Rent/Use' section of the profile

 

Check out these Pro-Tips for making your profile ready for the spotlight (including the 411 on getting a top profile score for extra visibility).

Select the Correct Legal Status for your Organization's Profile

You might be focusing on a profile for a “cultural organization” if you are staff or a member of not-for-profit business including:

  • Federally registered nonprofit independent organizations such as historical societies and art centers 
  • Volunteer-run organizations that are not federally registered (unincorporated), which can include cultural heritage organizations, arts centers, galleries, collectives, and more.
  • Institutions embedded in private or public non-cultural agencies, such as arts departments at universities, cultural councils that are a branch of the local government, or libraries owned by a town. 
  • Groups embedded in private or public cultural agencies like museums owned by a historical society or galleries within a government arts council.

Learn more about Legal Status on CreativeGround