Media Relations and Publicity

Advertising

While there is value in the process of collaborating with communities and artists, it is important to be able to clearly share with others what your project is about. This means that a successful leader will be able to put into a place a plan to work with media, get media attention and publicize the work. In some cases, artist and community collaborations do not end in a final pre- sentable product. The purpose of the collaboration may have been to raise awareness within the group about a certain topic or community concern. In this case, it is still important to spread the word about the project. In the press release to the media the participation and process should be the central point. Ask the group you are working with if anyone would like to volunteer to be interviewed about the project. Ensure everyone in the group is comfortable with the chosen person.

Advertising an Event

If your project has a final show, a marketing plan is necessary. A few things to consider when creating a marketing plan:

• What is the event?
• What are the date and time?
• Who is the event for? Is it for the community members and their family, the community at large, the city? A certain demographic?
• How does the group you have selected get their information? Do they read newspapers, are they on Facebook, do they shop at the local grocery store?
• Do you have someone on your team with graphic design skills who can design an advertisement?
• Does anyone in your group know someone who works in media? Are they willing to reach out for the group?
• Do you have a budget for printing costs? Or art supplies?