Should we combine the Bradenton and Sarasota AnythingArts.com sites in to one site?

[Rick Hughes]

We are curious as to your thoughts on this subject. The Bradenton site was originally established to give Manatee County and Bradenton its own identity. For the most part, this was accepted as a good thought. A couple of members in the Village of the Arts voiced the opinion that they'd prefer to be joined with Sarasota. It is a classic conundrum.

The Sarasota site is much more active, with nearly 600 members and lots of daily traffic and even some paying sponsors to cover the site. The Bradenton site has over 113 and quite a bit less traffic; and no sponsors. Many of the events from both locales are posted on both sites, but more often than not Bradenton events are posted on the Sarasota site.

Anyway, before we make any decisions, we'd like to hear your thoughts on the issue. To combine or not combine, that is the question. The other question is, if we keep them as two sites, how can we grow the Bradenton site to become as big and useful as the Sarasota site to its arts community?

Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks!

[Judy Dean]

Rick ... I think this is a wonderful idea - especially having recently attended a Sarasota Arts Council CEC meeting where several representatives from Manatee were present. They were quite vocal and enthusiastic about NOT separating Manatee Arts activities from Sarasota. Rather, refer to the area as Sarasota/Manatee as there are some remarkable groups and activities in both Counties! Count me as a YES to join the two anythingarts.com sites together!!! I'm all about inclusion!! Judy

[Bonnie Gray]

YES. Combine. I have trouble keeping up with both- and feel i should post on both.
BUT life is busy. However- NO larger than that, or we will not be spotlighting ourselves enough. B

[Drew Hudson]

Thanks for respecting Bradenton by asking; but it seems obvious that it's the thing to do..

[Carl Mario Nudi]

By combining the two sites, Bradenton will lose its individuality and continue to be seen as just an extension of Sarasota.
Although, with the lower traffic numbers on the Bradenton site practicality calls for the combining of the two.

[Marlane Wurzbach]

Yes, combine. Rather than losing Bradenton's individuality, I think it will do more to make Sarasota aware of us as a desirable destination for arts. Also I agree with Bonnie that it's to much to keep up with both sites, yet I want to know what's going on here in Bradenton AND in Sarasota.

[Thomas John Nudi]

I mean, Bradenton and Srasota are PRACTICALLY the same place. If anything combine them and just name it after Bradenton since we're better.... Duh.

just kidding.....

[Lee Shore Gallery/Christina Lee]

Yes, I agree with the others. I think it has been great having our own site, and getting more and more Bradenton people involved on the site. I think it is a wonderful forum to promote the arts, and that you provide it to us the artists for free is fantastic. As most everyone else said, life is busy. I have been meaning to join the Sarasota site, but I have been too busy. And like others, I like to know what is happening in the arts all over Bradenton and Sarasota. And I sure want my Gallery and the Village of the Arts promoted all over both areas, yet I just have not had a moment to join the Sarasota site. I think is it a great idea, especially if you call it Sarasota/Bradenton Anything Arts or Bradenton/Sarasota. I think it would be a positive step forward in promoting the arts in the whole community.

Christina Lee/Lee Shore Gallery, Village of the Arts, Bradenton

[Rick Hughes]

Great responses, thank you, There is certainly a trend in thinking here, eh? Given the holiday timing of this, I will wait to give voice to those who may not check emails until the work week starts (gasp. I am sitting here with a brace on my right wrist wishing I was one of those people.) but the direction is looking pretty clear.

Thank you all for taking the time to respond, giving this thought and for your continued support.

[d.a.gordon dart]

Rick,
In the past Bradenton, Venice and Sarasota arts communities have shared information and venues quite well, especially the visual arts opportunities and news. I would certainly welcome a combining of the Anything Arts sites for Sarasota and Bradenton and in fact - adding Venice and Englewood.
I can see the collaboration as more helpful. I can't think of any negatives.

You might even want to consider combining Tampa and St. Pete with SRQ and Bradenton to make the site more regional and helpful to its members in our growing global society - Could it become the Anything Arts of the gulf coast?
and.......
I'd find the calendar of events even more exceptional if it encompassed Tampa to Englewood!

Thanks for asking our thoughts.
Deborah

[Linda Balas]

As a volunteer at the ArtCenter Manatee I meet lots of folks from Sarasota and beyond. Those passionate about the arts will travel and combining the two communities will expand everyone's globe.

[Teri Duncan]

I think combining would be a great idea. As busy as we all are, having one less site to visit would be wonderful!!

[The Village Bookshop]

Rick -

Hope you're having a good holiday season.

I liked the notion initially for all the reasons stated: life is busy, simplification, benefits to Bradenton/Manatee, the rational approach due to proximity, et. al. Obviously, we need all the help we can get due to the long tradition of thinking about the arts as a "beneficial feature for the city" - rather than arts as the city and county's responsibility, and a piece of its ongoing committment to the community.

Nevertheless, I have an irksome fellow on my shoulder with sharp teeth and an arrow tail. He's whispering things like: "here we go again, another drift to being absorbed into the neighboring counties with their upscale, high-art, big money, corporate collective. You know what happened with the likes of Scene magazine. And, how in the Lakewood Ranch collaboration with Sarasota, via publications like Living Out East, the Village of the Arts has essentially been cut out of the picture. Sure, sure with the Knight Foundation move to assist the Bradenton Arts Organizations with its promises of grant money, there is a promising future ahead. But hey, where's the GO LOCAL spirit that takes on the TOTAL ECONOMY?"

Kind of an extremist, isn't he? But the point is worth considering. Does amalgamation equal absorption? Will a move to combining the sites signal eventual loss of any distinction? Maybe, if so, that's a good thing. I'm not qualified to give answers, I'm only good at questions. It is refreshing to read the open-armed Sarasotans saying "we'd love to have it all together" - however, it is curious that few from Manatee have responded. Apathy? Too busy? Unaware of the questions or larger frame? I admit, in the beginning I was one of those who thought a combined AArts site would be a good thing. All I'm saying is that I have a few more questions now.

So, that's just my dark Wendell-Berry-ish-gremlin-side, but thought you ought to know the stuff he's shouting in my ear (he's gotten louder and crankier). I have also envisioned an area-wide collaborative publication that is truly inclusive, so perhaps this plan for AArts is a harbinger of something akin in hard-copy. My hat is off, as always, in view of all you do for the arts and artists. Happy New Year!

the curmudgeon minority