A Presentation by Bryan Joseph Lee, Program Associate, Prince George's African American Museum and Cultural Center

1. New Media and Engagement Using Web 2.0 as a means of Dialogue

2. Our Mission To inspire a deep commitment to the community of Prince George’s County and beyond through the cultivation, preservation, and production of the cultural and artistic contributions of the African American Diaspora.

3. Our Fundamental Values ‘Radical Inclusion’ ‘Explosive Dialogue’ ‘Progressive Thinking’ (or, a progressive approach to thinking)’ To Investigate Identity What does it mean to be African-American? What does it mean to be a museum?

4. Our Goal To promote dialogue, connection, and community within (and beyond) our museum’s walls.

5. What is Web 2.0? “The term "Web 2.0” is commonly associated with web applications that facilitate interactive information sharing and collaboration on the World Wide Web. Examples of Web 2.0 include web-based communities, hosted services, web applications, social-networking sites, video-sharing sites, wikis, mashups, and blogs. A Web 2.0 site allows its users to interact with other users or to change website content, in contrast to non-interactive websites where users are limited to the passive viewing of information that is provided to them.”

7. The Challenge How can we make Web 2.0 platforms a fundamental aspect of our institutional dialogue.

8. Everyone is asking this question. Most users are ‘born native’ and expect to customize and manipulate their experience Smithsonian Commons – “a new part of our digital presence dedicated to stimulating learning, creation, and innovation through open access to Smithsonian research, collections and communities.” Smithsonian Commons

9. How? LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE

10. The Big Picture

11. The Work Everything is connected to the work. Exhibitions Programs Seminars, Workshops, Talkbacks, Panels Everything springs from our mission, and is in line with our fundamental values.

12. PGAAMCC.ORG Our central presence on the web. A point of connection that links all other Web 2.0 forums. A website that is radically inclusive, explosive, and progressive. As central to our mission as (and, in some cases, more important than) our physical space.

13. PGAAMCC.ORG Research Background Information Study Guides Reference Material PDFs and scans of Printed Publications Collections and Exhibits Digitize Collections! Stream webcasts of seminars and workshops Upload videos of conferences and events Function as a record of all work produced in house Community Calendar Listing of other events in the Arts District Connecting PGAAMCC to our community

14. Blog – a ‘web log’; an online website or journal that features regular entries, commentary, and contributions from our writers. Supplement our formal website with tailored articles, commentary, news postings, etc. Up-to-date: more frequently updated with commentary (and more flexible) than our website. Allow comments from guests – start a conversation, a conference, a discussion in virtual space before it moves to the real world. Who does it well? NYT ArtsBeat

15. Facebook is a social networking tool that has recently been at the forefront of internet marketing and advertising. Who uses it? Everybody. Organization Pages: Business Information: Hours, Mission, Contact Info Attach notes to content – Let users Comment Link to Blog, Twitter, Website, and Online Content Have ‘Fans’ ADVERTISE OUR EVENTS Who does it well? The Walters Art Museum, Brightest Young Things

16. Twitter is a micro-blogging website that lets users upload mini-messages known as tweets. Connect to users in real time Know what people are saying about the museum Hashtag: #PGAAMCC, @PGAAMCC Mobile platform – People Tweet via phone/text Marketing – Visibility, Programming, Announce new Content, hold Contests Who does it well: Museum Media

17. Video Sharing Website Personalized Content and Favorites Many institutions have YouTube pages Tailored Content: Interviews Segments about the Art Community Profiles (of People and Places) Community Work Filming Events and Conferences (Live at…) Who does it well: NYPL, Brooklyn Museum

18. Flickris a photo-sharing community that allows users to upload and comment on pictures. Photos from Events Connecting with Exhibitions Really great software/ UI innovation Who does it well: The White House

19. Ideas for Web 2.0 Integration Publish Collections Online! Allow visitors to leave comments in person that show up in cyberspace (and vice/versa) Tweet or FB comments on the collections (via blog or Twitter) Footnote collections (in Flickror YouTube) and link to supplementary material directly from the artwork itself Spearhead technological innovation by finding new ways to broaden the online visitor experience (Is it linear? Is it virtual? Is it a cloud?)

20. Ideas for Web 2.0 Integration Use Blog as a tool for dialogue Post regularly (Daily - 3 times a week minimum) Be a source of creative inspiration – post art everyday. Connect with guest bloggers to add to the voices heard Ask panelists for events to publish initial remarks online in advance

21. Ideas for Web 2.0 Integration Create real video archive of events, as well as creative supplementary materials for our guests Video is archived online and on YouTube Video is given context and discussed on Blog Viewers/Readers are pointed to Website for more information

22. Ideas for Web 2.0 Integration Use Twitter as a networking tool, and create an instant presence online Know when someone mentions PGAAMCC Respond Directly to their comments or questions Ask visitors to Tweet about their experience, or ask questions virtually Run contests via Twitter, raffles, scavenger hunts, etc. Link every Blog/Website/FB/Calendar update to a Tweet

23. Ideas for Web 2.0 Integration Link the Website, Facebook, and Twitter to all of our publications and advertisements Print media Film Clips Our Website – and anyone else’s Business Cards Programs Plug them at Speaking Events

24. Ideas for Web 2.0 Integration Advertise Special Promotions via Facebook Co-sponsorships Discounts to area artists Deals around the Arts District Build a fan base and ask everyone to link us to their friends.

25. Ideas for Web 2.0 Integration Photo/Flickr/YouTube Booths Set up film or Photo Booth to record audience reactions (or confessionals) on site Post online via YouTube Comment/Connect on the Blog Turn into its own exhibit (a la The Black List)

26. Ideas for Web 2.0 Integration CROWDSOURCING: Go directly to the patron as ask them what they want to see! Create an environment that is organic as possible.

27. The Big Picture (Again)

28. The Big Picture (Again)

29. Play Devil’s Advocate

30. Bibliography Web 2.0: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0 Smithsonian Commons: http://smithsonian-webstrategy.wikispaces.com/Strategy+--+Table+of+Contents NYT ArtsBeat Blog: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/ The Walters Art Museum: http://www.facebook.com/home.php? Brightest Young Things: http://www.brightestyoungthings.com Museum Media: http://twitter.com/museummedia New York Public Library: http://www.youtube.com/NewYorkPublicLibrary Brooklyn Museum: Brooklyn Museum White House Flickr Stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse Edson, Michael. “Web Tech Guy and Angry Staff Person: An Exaggerated Tale.” http://usingdata.typepad.com/usingdata/2009/03/web.html

31. Thank You Bryan Joseph Lee Program Associate PGAAMCC