WESTAF Update Notes #70 | June 2012
From Anthony Radich, Executive Director
This is the 70th in a continuing series of updates about the work of WESTAF
WESTAF Announces Two New Research Fellows
WESTAF is pleased to announce the addition of two research fellows to the Creative Vitality™ Index team. Lori Pfingst is the Senior Policy Analyst at the Washington State Budget and Policy Center and has a doctorate in sociology from the University of Washington. Pfingst will work with the CVI™ team to evaluate additional arts, culture, and creative economy data streams to include in the updated CVI™ Data on Demand tool. Matthew Barry is the Director of Data and Information Initiatives at the Piton Foundation in Denver, Colorado. The Piton Foundation is working with Barry to develop a web tool for health and education data sharing and data-related storytelling. Barry will work with the Data on Demand development team to integrate new data visualization concepts and reporting tools into the site.
Public Art Archive™ Collection Management Survey Results
Archive staff recently surveyed public art program administrators regarding their use of collection management tools. The purpose of the survey was to secure information to help guide the development of the Archive’s now-in-development public art collection management tool. The vision for the Archive project has always included a collections management feature that is specifically designed to address the needs of public art managers. Survey results revealed that only 30% of the respondents managed their collections online. In addition, the survey confirmed that most of the online tools used to manage public art collections are outdated and/or substantially ill suited to the management of a public art collection. A survey follow-up meeting will be held in conjunction with the Americans for the Arts Annual Convention in San Antonio on June 8. The meeting will convene 30 members of the public art field to secure their additional advice on the the development of the Public Art Archive’s™ collection management tool. For more information, please contact  Rachel Cain.
WESTAF Board of Trustees Convenes in Reno
WESTAF’s board of trustees met May 16-17 in Reno, Nevada to revise and update its long-range plan. Alex Ooms, who facilitated the 2009 planning process, returned to manage the 2012 effort. Ooms is currently heading a company that raises venture capital and manages mergers and acquisitions. Highly active in education reform, Ooms currently serves on the boards of the West Denver Preparatory Charter Schools, the Colorado Charter Schools Institute, the Charter School Development Corporation, the Colorado chapter of Stand for Children, and is a senior fellow in education at the Donnell-Kay Foundation. He is also a poet who worked in the Literature program at the National Endowment for the Arts. Ooms holds a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College, a master’s degree from Georgetown University, and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School at Northwestern University. The long-range plan that is being developed in collaboration with Ooms will be completed in October 2012.

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