ArtsAtlas FAQ

1.   Who can join the Central Highlands ArtsAtlas?

Anyone is free to register with the ArtsAtlas, either to set up a profile or to list events and opportunities. You do not have to set up a profile to list events. Check the below information to see if the ArtsAtlas suits you:

Is the Central Highlands ArtsAtlas for you? The Central Highlands Arts Atlas is primarily designed to service artists and communities in the Central Highland region Victoria (Ararat Rural City, City of Ballarat, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool, and Pyrenees. Major towns of the highlands include Castlemaine, Creswick, Daylesford, Gisborne, Kyneton and Woodend), and the intention of the website is that these individuals and groups take precedence in terms of providing content. If you’re unsure whether it is appropriate for you to register and add information to the website, please contact the administrator via the contact page. If you fit into one or more of the points below, the ArtsAtlas is what you’re looking for!

  • Are you an artist or arts group/activity residing and working in the Central Highlands region ie: in the area defined by the map on the website?
  • Are you, or is your group, venue or event residing in the Central Highlands region, ie. in the area defined by the map included on this website?
  • Would your group, event or venue be seen as primarily focused on the arts, or is the arts part of the focus of your activities?
  • Are you an arts worker or volunteer residing and working in the Central Highlands region?

 

2.   How much does it cost?

The Central Highlands ArtsAtlas is FREE to register and there is no cost to set up a profile or list activities.

 

3.   I’m not an artist, can I still join to list events for my community/group?

Yes. In some cases, you may be an artist or arts group/org involved in running arts events. Joining to list events and opportunities only is fine. However, all listings must be arts related.

 

4.   What kind of artists can join?

All artists and art forms can join and use the ArtsAtlas. We define ‘arts’ by the ‘creative arts’ which includes visual arts, crafts/design, music, performing arts, writing, new media, rare trades, multimedia etc. If you find you don’t fit into the designated categories and sub-categories of arts when setting up a profile then ArtsAtlas may not be for you.

 

5.   Can I promote my business through the ArtsAtlas?

The ArtsAtlas is best used as a complement to existing websites, Facebook pages and other online profiles. It is primarily a resource for sharing what you do and listing events. Artists, groups and spaces are able to profile what they do ‘within’ their profile pages as well as link to other websites but using the site to promote your business as a primary focus of your profile page, is not appropriate. For instance, artists can link to their online shops and state their work is for sale but should use the profile page to talk about and show their work.

 (i.e., I’m a tattoo artist. As such I can create a profile to highlight my art and create a link to a separate page advertising my business.)

 

6.   The Atlas seems like a great information sharing tool, why can’t I list other community events?

The ArtsAtlas is specifically for arts profiles and events/opportunities. Keeping it relevant to the arts will ensure it works for the designed purpose (sharing information, skills, networking and as a tourism resource). If the website gets flooded with non-arts events and listings the Atlas won’t work. Groups, individuals and organisations running arts events can register to join the website and list their arts events when they run them.

 

7.   What is the suggested protocol for listing an event?

There are no rules, per se, when listing an event but we do want the events calendar to remain dynamic and useful to the community so we have provided some hints and tips below for writing up your events:

  • Your event heading/name is key. Don’t make the mistake of writing the title of the event if it does not show WHAT and WHERE. People glancing at the events calendar will pick up your event easier if they know exactly what it is and where. Eg. Instead of naming your event, ‘Put Some Colour in your Life’, call it, ‘Painting Workshop, Hamilton’. Then detail the event in the listing.
  • Try to avoid acronyms and be clear about who you are and where your event is. You might know everything there is to know about your event but when writing up your listing, write it as if your audience does not know where you are, who you are and what you do. List your address, name, purpose and details clearly.
  • If you have an event that, such as an exhibition, that goes for three weeks but in a venue that is only open week days, you must create three separate listings (Mon-Friday). Otherwise, the event will turn up in the weekend days as well. You don’t want people turning up to your venue/event and it’s closed.
  • Events listings are targeted to tourists, general audiences and your followers so get the details right and they will eventually trust the ArtsAtlas to be accurate and therefore visit it frequently. This is how you as a user can contribute to the success of the ArtsAtlas as a resource for the Arts community.
  • HINT: When you write up your events, copy and paste the URL link for them to your social media platforms. This is another way of getting traffic through the Atlas and therefore people looking at the event and everything else you do.