Here’s an interesting tidbit from Peterborough, New Hampshire, where town officials are challenging the nonprofit tax status of the venerable MacDowell Colony (here’s the AP story via CBS News, and here’s an update from the Keene Sentinal). The Colony has been a famed retreat and work haven for more than 5500 artists since 1907 — […]
So you want to accept donations on-line?
TechSoup has a useful report excerpt exploring the various ways smaller nonprofits can accept donations on-line (the full report is also available on-line from Idealware, but requires your name and e-mail to access it). The report authors reviewed 27 lower-priced online donation tools that can be used with an existing website. Since each user has […]
Describing the vibrant creative community
I see lots of cities promoting a ”vibrant creative community” in the wake of Richard Florida’s Creative Class and other similar reports. But few actually define what they mean by it. Which is why I liked Ottawa’s take on the issue on that city’s Arts and Heritage web site: The ingredients for a vibrant creative […]
It’s not your grandfather’s media format
You’ll find some great perspectives on podcasting from Mark Glaser and his overview of NPR’s strategic and successful move to the media format. Key to their success (so far) is their willingness to rethink their business model for the on-line world, to explore new content that’s more suited to niche markets (not just repurposed radio […]
Don’t go to the zoo, go to the jungle
Trendwatching.com has a good overview of what they call ”virtual anthropology,” or the observational research of consumer behavior that’s now possible on-line. They say: As consumers around the world pro-actively post, stream if not lead parts of their lives online, you (or your trend team) can now vicariously ‘live’ amongst them, at home, at work, […]
Perhaps we installed these by accident
The New York Times has a piece on a new invention in the UK designed to annoy and chase off a younger crowd. Says the article: The device, called the Mosquito (”It’s small and annoying,” Mr. Stapleton said), emits a high-frequency pulsing sound that, he says, can be heard by most people younger than 20 […]
Can culture save downtown?
Adrian Ellis has a good overview of the role of arts facilities in ”saving” cities. Chief among the challenges, he says, is the disconnect between iconic arts facility development and the arts organizations that surround them. Says he: …the discussions about arts organizations and those about arts buildings are curiously and uncomfortably divorced. The role […]
Of characters and authenticity
As corporate America explores the informal, conversational world of blogging, a new form of the format is coming into controversy: the character blog. These are weblogs written from the perspective and with the narrative style of fictional characters. Some, like the Captain Morgan Blog, are built on characters we all know are fake. Others, like […]
What about Sim conservatories?
I’ve written about the Sims before, but this announcement of an upcoming University add-on pack for the software game was just too much to let pass: This addition to the popular ”people simulator” includes the young adult age group, which enables Sims to head off to college. Collegiate Sims can vie to become the Big […]
If you don’t know your own community, don’t blame the government
Friend, colleague, and research wonk Neill Archer Roan reminded me of the wonderful riches available on-line from the U.S. Census Bureau. Their American FactFinder is a treasure trove of market research and demographic information on your community. Just run a quick ”fact sheet” search of your city and you’ll see what I mean: median household […]
