CREATIVEGROUND IS ONE YEAR OLD!

CreativeGround launched on January 30, 2014 and we're celebrating the directory's first anniversary for the month of February. To date, 1,851 profiles have been updated by users - and more each day! Of course CreativeGround is all about you, our users. So, join us for a look back at the highlights and challenges of the last year, a glimpse at what's next, a Q&A with one of New England's many active artists, and a chance for you to win a prize.

Thanks for a year full of activity online and off. We've learned so much about New England's artists and creative enterprises through new and updated CreativeGround profiles, promotions, and workshops - we hope you have too!

LOOKING BACK

We're taking a moment to reflect on CreativeGround's first year as New England's cultural directory. Read the blog post to learn why CreativeGround was created, our goals, the challenges we faced, our journey throughout New England getting the word out, and - with feedback from users - what we have planned in the next year.

Read the post!

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST

During the month of February, we will post about the CreativeGround anniversary on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Keep an eye out for these posts and like, share, or retweet them to be entered to win free registration to the Creative Communities Exchange (CCX) in June 2015 or a $100 cash card (your choice).

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING

Over the last year, we've collected feedback from users about how they use CreativeGround. Here are some of the things they're saying:

Springfield Museums

Rachel Sargent

Seth Lepore

"I manage both adult and family programs for the very unique Springfield Museums. On countless occasions I have used the site to search for performers for family programs. I always mention CreativeGround to new presenters and performers when they visit our Museums. It's wonderful to have such a valuable resource to help find talented local people."- Springfield Museums

"I like the idea of an online arts community where artists and makers can help each other. For example, I have projects in mind that I don't have the skills to do entirely myself, but I can use the directory to find possible collaborators. And now other artists can find me if they're looking for a collaborator too!" - Rachel Sargent

"New England is brimming with creative professionals and to have them all in one place is a sigh of relief. The layout of the comprehensive profiles organizes the content and helps users find the information they want quickly and with ease. I'm thrilled to be represented on this new and exciting platform." - Seth Lepore

AND THE WINNER IS. . .

The winner of the anniversary blog contest is Maine public art sculptor Anne Alexander! Stay tuned for our next "On the CreativeGround" blog which will explore Anne's experience as an active public artist in New England as well as some of her favorite projects and collaborations.

CREATIVEGROUND SURVEY

Thank you to everyone who took time to fill out the CreativeGround survey! We received 211 responses and over the next few weeks, we will be closely reviewing responses and incorporating feedback into our plan for our second year. CreativeGround is a community directory, and your input is critical for its development - ensuring its role as an easy-to-navigate and useful tool for arts and non-arts communities alike.

The survey contest is over, but we still welcome your feedback. Click here to take the survey.

NEFA NEWS

The registration for the Creative Communities Exchange (CCX) in Keene, NH in June is now open! Register now.
Upcoming NEFA grant deadlines:

Expeditions Touring Grant: February 18, 2015
Fund for the Arts: February 23, 2015
New England States Touring Grant: March 2, 2015
See other grant deadlines here

UPDATE OR CREATE YOUR PROFILE!

Go to www.creativeground.org/user.
Sign in under 'I have an account' with your username and password. (Forgot your password? Click on 'Request new password' and instructions will be emailed to you).
If you already have a public profile, you will see it listed on your 'My Account' page. Click on the 'EDIT PROFILE' link to the right of the profile name to start updating it.
If you should have a public profile in the directory but don't see it on your 'My Account page', do a quick search in CreativeGround to see if it already exists.
If you find a public profile you should own, click 'Request management of this profile' at the bottom of the page, and once the CreativeGround team has approved you as profile manager (within 1-2 business days), you will see your profile listed on your 'My Account' page under 'Public Profiles.'
Need to create a new public profile? Click on the blue '+GET LISTED' button at the top of the page and get started!

IN THIS ISSUE

Looking Back

Social Media Contest

What You're Saying

And the winner is . . .

CreativeGround Survey

NEFA News

Update or Create Your Profile

CONNECT
WITH NEFA

Become a part of the work that we do to sustain the arts in New England and beyond. Support NEFA today!

ABOUT

CREATIVEGROUND

A project of NEFA, CreativeGround is brought to you through ongoing partnerships with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, the Maine Arts Commission, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, and the Vermont Arts Council. Learn more.