Would you turn over the reigns of your Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts to someone else to post and publish whatever they like? Wild Goose Creative decided that the idea was just what the organization needed to help place local artists at the forefront of a new program called #wildartcolumbus.
“It has been a month-long endeavor to get Columbus art ‘to the tiny screen’,” explains Jill Moorhead, VP at Wild Goose Creative and co-chair of the group’s marketing committee. “Each day, a different artist posts to our social media sites, and each day, they’re partnered with a business or organization that financially contributes to both the artist and to Wild Goose.”
Through the program, #wildartscolumbus will give over $3,000 to local artists by the end of September. And the process of turning over social media credentials has been described as a smooth and conflict-free process for the organization.
“Our Board Treasurer Neda Golchin has been a creative genius at automizing things, so that the only access we needed to give up was our Instagram account,” says Moorhead. “At first, there was trepidation about this task, but with some clean and clear behind-the-scenes organization, it’s been a simple project.”
The results of the program have been positive both for the artists and for Wild Goose Creative. Moorhead says that the group has nearly doubled their Instragram followers in the past month, and their stats are up on Facebook and Twitter as well. Some of the participating artists have also gained followers on their personal accounts, and some have made connections with art collectors who want to make purchases.
“We exist, in part, to connect artists with audiences and to facilitate the creation of art in Columbus,” says Moorhead. “By handing over our social media platforms to local artists of all ages and styles (from a seven year old painter to artists who make a living solely on their work), we’re doing just that.”
The month-long event culminates with a pop-up art exhibition and live auction on Tuesday, September 30th from 6pm to 8pm at Wild Goose Creative (2491 Summit Street). The event is open to the public, food and wine will be provided, and the auction starts promptly at 7pm.
For more information, visit www.wildartcolumbus.com and www.wildgoosecreative.com.