New MCA portal
Thu, 29 June 2000, 05:33 pmGrant Malcolm5 posts in thread
New MCA portal
Thu, 29 June 2000, 05:33 pmThe Ministry of Culture and the Arts' new web portal is visually very pleasing! The subtle inclusion of images from the performing arts and interesting range of articles present an attractive face to the arts in western australia.
It makes quite a contrast to the rather stark appearance of ArtsWA's site:
It makes quite a contrast to the rather stark appearance of ArtsWA's site:
Grant MalcolmThu, 29 June 2000, 05:33 pm
The Ministry of Culture and the Arts' new web portal is visually very pleasing! The subtle inclusion of images from the performing arts and interesting range of articles present an attractive face to the arts in western australia.
It makes quite a contrast to the rather stark appearance of ArtsWA's site:
It makes quite a contrast to the rather stark appearance of ArtsWA's site:
Grant MalcolmFri, 30 June 2000, 02:46 pm
RE: New MCA portal
Did it sound like i was endorsing the MCA website? I'm not. Half my message disappeared.
:(
Amongst a fairly comprehensive list of arts organisations on the 'net there is no mention of the ITA on the MCA site.
The what's on section does a poor job of representing theatre in Perth. Prominent links are provided to:
BOCS - their website is BLANK!
Scoop - lists only 19 theatre productions all the way to the end of the year!
ArtsDiary - lists only ONE production for the whole of June.
By contrast, the ITA site lists 30 productions for June and more than 200 so far this year.
There is now a text link (i'm sure it wasn't there yesterday) to What's On in Perth & Fremantle, a commercial outfit that offers a very brief listing of many theatre events.
Is it the policy of the MCA to promote commercial interests ahead of and to the exclusion of community driven not-for-profit projects?
I've written to the MCA to complain and received a prompt if neutral "will contact you soon" reply.
On the front page, the MCA site reads "Welcome to Culture & Arts, your portal to online information about the arts and culture of Western Australia."
Hmmmm... which would you consider YOUR portal?
MCA where you have to hunt for scant theatre info? Where you have to cross your fingers and hope they'll list your details or link?
Or the ITA site where everyone has an equal hand in shaping the information and details on offer?
The internet can be a great democratising force, offering opportunities for individuals to contribute and work together towards collaborative goals.
Or, as with the MCA site, it can be a corporatising force that that spoon feeds the corporate message to an increasingly passive and submissive audience.
Perhaps our government departments and politicians are hopelessly ignorant of the opportunities the internet provides to draw communities together. Perhaps they're terrified of them.
Cheers
Grant
:(
Amongst a fairly comprehensive list of arts organisations on the 'net there is no mention of the ITA on the MCA site.
The what's on section does a poor job of representing theatre in Perth. Prominent links are provided to:
BOCS - their website is BLANK!
Scoop - lists only 19 theatre productions all the way to the end of the year!
ArtsDiary - lists only ONE production for the whole of June.
By contrast, the ITA site lists 30 productions for June and more than 200 so far this year.
There is now a text link (i'm sure it wasn't there yesterday) to What's On in Perth & Fremantle, a commercial outfit that offers a very brief listing of many theatre events.
Is it the policy of the MCA to promote commercial interests ahead of and to the exclusion of community driven not-for-profit projects?
I've written to the MCA to complain and received a prompt if neutral "will contact you soon" reply.
On the front page, the MCA site reads "Welcome to Culture & Arts, your portal to online information about the arts and culture of Western Australia."
Hmmmm... which would you consider YOUR portal?
MCA where you have to hunt for scant theatre info? Where you have to cross your fingers and hope they'll list your details or link?
Or the ITA site where everyone has an equal hand in shaping the information and details on offer?
The internet can be a great democratising force, offering opportunities for individuals to contribute and work together towards collaborative goals.
Or, as with the MCA site, it can be a corporatising force that that spoon feeds the corporate message to an increasingly passive and submissive audience.
Perhaps our government departments and politicians are hopelessly ignorant of the opportunities the internet provides to draw communities together. Perhaps they're terrified of them.
Cheers
Grant
Grant MalcolmThu, 13 July 2000, 11:33 pm
MCA portal
A couple of weeks ago i wrote of the new Ministry of Culture and the Arts portal:
> I've written to the MCA to complain and received a
> prompt if neutral "will contact you soon" reply.
Not yet had any further response. Anybody like to have a guess at how long it is reasonable to wait before stirring the pot a little?
:-)
Cheers
Grant
PS. Pleasing to note that even if the Ministry of Culture and the Arts doesn't consider this site worthy of attention amongst the 50 odd arts organisations listed, OgdensIFC have chosen to list us amongst their list of 30 arts organisations.
> I've written to the MCA to complain and received a
> prompt if neutral "will contact you soon" reply.
Not yet had any further response. Anybody like to have a guess at how long it is reasonable to wait before stirring the pot a little?
:-)
Cheers
Grant
PS. Pleasing to note that even if the Ministry of Culture and the Arts doesn't consider this site worthy of attention amongst the 50 odd arts organisations listed, OgdensIFC have chosen to list us amongst their list of 30 arts organisations.
Grant MalcolmTue, 25 July 2000, 07:29 pm
RE: MCA portal
I'm delighted to report that the Ministry for Culture & the Arts now lists the Independent Theatre Association amongst its database of venues and presenters!
My thanks to Cherie and Caron from the Ministry for a positive and productive meeting. I look forward to following developments on the MCA site.
Cheers
Grant
My thanks to Cherie and Caron from the Ministry for a positive and productive meeting. I look forward to following developments on the MCA site.
Cheers
Grant