professional membership

Featured Member

iPhone App from ArtsMemphis

Technology = Access in Memphis

Innovation and new technology is keeping ArtsMemphis on the cutting edge and helping the community access the arts with the touch of a finger.

The ArtsMemphis staff is always looking for the newest ways to engage their members and make the arts in Memphis accessible as possible to the entire community. Three years ago, with the support of the Assisi Foundation, ArtsMemphis launched an Audience Development Initiative with the goal of building greater awareness and access to arts and culture to increase economic development potential with participating organizations. Part of the initiative included launching a new website with a comprehensive online arts calendar for Memphis arts events, www.ArtsMemphis.org. This site receives more than 10,000 hits per month. After launching the calendar successfully, arts groups and audience members expressed interest in and a need for a mobile-friendly version of the calendar allowing them the ability to make decision about events and even purchase tickets on the go.

ArtsMemphis reviewed different possibilities for expanding the calendar and determined the best option for them was to partner with a local developer and build a new application (or app) for mobile devides that allowed users to search for arts events in Memphis on the go, get directions, purchase tickets, and even post reviews. They partnered with RESOLUTE Games Corp in May 2009 and by September 24, the new app was launched. In the first two weeks the app had nearly 400 downloads and was receiving encouraging reviews such as “Simply Perfect,” “I wish they had this in every city,” and “ The ArtsMemphis app has #1 priority on my desktop!”. 

ArtsMemphis CEO Susan Schadt said, "We're not aware of any other arts organization that offers a free app like this; it’s thrilling to have Memphis be the first on the scene with something this innovative and juicy. It's a confluence of arts groups and the public." And it’s not just great for users; arts directors are also excited to be able to offer instant access to their box offices. The app also allows patrons to post reviews that can be read before you purchase your tickets. It’s this level of interaction that makes this app stand apart from other online calendars. At any given time, hundreds of events are available from opera, symphony, and theater to museum exhibits and other free cultural programs. The app brings access to a whole new level for Memphis arts organizations and artists. Including mobile episodes of ArtsMemphis TV, featuring area performers and artists can also be downloaded from the app. "There are close to 200 arts-related affiliates on our site loading their events, which means a wealth of cultural offerings that people can instantly access," Schadt said. "This literally puts the arts at your fingertips."

Another key component to developing and launching the app successfully was it’s sponsorship from both the Assisi Foundation and Iberiabank. Many corporations remain dedicated to funding the arts but are cautious as to where their funds are being invested. In this case, Iberiabank wanted to attract customers in the Mid-South region and aligning with ArtsMemphis to support the app was a unique opportunity to reach their target market as well as support the arts. The Assisi Foundation’s support of the app through the Audience Development Initiative was also crucial in making this project possible.

ArtsMemphis was both frugal and fearless in launching this endeavor. They recognized the need of the community, invested wisely in technology and acted quickly to provide a solution for the community. This one app features listing for more than 300 events listed by more than 180 organizations across the city. And once the organization recognized that the technology could be easily applied to other cites at an affordable rate this solution has also turned out to be a surprising source of additional revenue. They have already received numerous inquiries from cities interested in purchasing the app for their arts organizations. Inherit to the app’s design there is a lot of space for advertising and a great opportunity for revenue for ArtsMemphis using a cost-per-click rate.

This is truly an example of a sound business plan, entrepreneurial spirit, and collaboration between for-profit and nonprofit organizations coming together to increase access to the arts in Memphis.