Arts and Business proves a successful marriage for local artists!

The Alley Theatre recently launched a new Artist Gallery within the North West's leading department store, Linton and Robinson's. Supported by Arts and Business NI, this fantastic new venture works on several different levels. Firstly it will enable local artists the opportunity to reach a totally new client base, secondly it offers Linton's to offer a very unique product and make them "stand out from the crowd" in a busy retail sector, and finally for the Alley to implement its arts development mission. The launch was a tremendous success and I strongly believe if things go well, this project could run and run. See below the editorial which was seen across the North West.

New North West Artist Gallery launch hailed a success!

The launch of the new North West Artist Gallery, based within Strabane’s Linton and Robinsons’ department store, has been hailed by organizers as a “tremendous success for local artists and Strabane”. Featuring the artwork from 5 local artists, ranging from funky contemporary portraits, delightful sculptures and more traditional landscape and fine art works, the gallery was officially opened last week to large audience of dedicated art lovers and those interested in purchasing a unique item for their home.

“Linton and Robinson has been part of the community in Strabane and throughout the North-West for well over 50 years now. It is therefore very fitting that in conjunction with the Alley Theatre and through funding via Arts and Business NI, that we should promote local artists within our new Furniture 2 department store” commented Joe Barber, Manager at Linton and Robinson. “We hope the artists will benefit by having their works on display within a modern store, offering them extra exposure to the public and media. This is a new venture for Strabane and Linton’s, and when you see how the store has changed over the last 5 years, you can certainly see Strabane is changing, re-inventing itself and becoming far more competitive in the retail, arts and cultural tourism sectors.”

The North West Artist Gallery has been developed in association with the Strabane’s Alley Theatre and Arts & Business NI, a not for profit organisation, which aims to promote mutually beneficial relationships between business, the arts and the public sector in order to increase private sector investment into the arts through investment programmes. Commenting on the launch, Alley Theatre Manager, John Kerr stated “This has been a wonderful exhibition launch and I certainly hope that the public support this innovative project, which is showcasing some amazing pieces of new artwork, at what I must say is some excellent prices. By purchasing a piece you are not only supporting local artists, but you made never know a purchase might prove to be a valuable investment for the future.

Happy Birthday Facebook

Strabane’s Alley Theatre is leading the birthday congratulations to one of the worlds largest social networking sites, namely Facebook, who are celebrating their 5th birthday this year. The popular North West arts venue has capitalized on the growth of this fantastic social networking site, developing “The Alley Theatre Facebook page”, which is now officially one of the largest theatre Facebook pages in existence within Northern Ireland.

Facebook is now a world leading company, however it beginnings are far removed from the world of big business. Created in the dorm rooms of Harvard University, student Mark Zuckerberg designed this revolutionary site so he could keep in touch with his friends. From those humble beginnings, Facebook is now a world leader on the internet, with over 150 million users worldwide.

The Facebook “phenomenon” knows no boundaries in its ever increasing presence on the web, and has now even reached Strabane and the patrons of the Alley Theatre Strabane. "Facebook and other social network sites are practically still in their infancy” commented Nathan Flatman, Marketing officer for the Alley Theatre, “In the future, sites like Facebook and Twitter will be essential sites for internet users to visit, allowing them to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues who are based not just regionally, but internationally. I speak to friends in the UK, Australia and Korea at the click of a button via Facebook and we are delighted to see the Alley Face Book Page becoming one of the most successful theatre based pages within Northern Ireland”.

At the end of 2005, Facebook expanded into the UK and Ireland, with the site now translated across 35 languages with another 60 in development. Everyday more than 15 million users update their status to tell their friends what they are doing, showing off photographs, uploading videos, chatting, making like minded friends, meet old ones, join causes, groups, and have fun. For more information on the Alley Theatre’s Facebook page and other Alley related social network sites visit www.alley-theatre.com/about-us/alley-social-network-sites

Alley Theatre launches Podcast service

The Alley Theatre, Strabane, supported by Harte and McGarrigle Estate Agents has scooped not only the North West, but the whole of Northern Ireland with the launch of the new Alley Theatre podcast site at http://alleytheatre.podbean.com/

The podcast was set up after training from Audiences NI and the arts website Culture Northern Ireland. One of the hardest parts about podcasting has been getting the correct equipment and software together, however once that was all sorted a pod cast can be recorded, edited and up loaded within 20 - 30 minutes.

Currently on the podcast site are interview with Mike Absalom (if you don't know him, have a look at Ambrose Blog, his life story is on here!) and Barry Clarke, who stars in Martin Lynch's new show, the Chronicles of Long Kesh, which I had the pleasure to see at the Alley last week. Fantastic, heartbreaking, funny, moving, painful, the show had everything, and justified the standing ovation it received.

UPDATE - July 19tg 2009 - The podacast site is going really well, plenty of users and coverage. Check out what the Derry Journal had to say at http://www.derryjournal.com/journal/Alley-Theatre-leads-the-way.5453828.jp

Don't sacrifice marketing expert warns arts groups

Often in tough economic times art groups and theatres would look at their budgets and see marketing as one of the leading easy areas to cut costs, however leading thinkers and marketing groups have highlighted that this is a short term and ill advised route to follow, with possible long term repercussions which will harm the organisation rather than develop its future.

Obviously you would state that "Of cause someone working in arts marketing would argue that saving marketing budgets (and jobs) is the way forward, it's all about self interest", however if we examine the facts and look at various case studies the evidence clearly shows that in tough times, investment in the marketing department is the way foward, not cut's.

The marketing department are the only people in the organisation whose main aim is to retain and gain new audiences, and by cutting that service an organisation is merely stopping the process from happening at the very time when theatres come under pressure from patrons with limited budgets.

Check out this article and see what you think.
http://www.sacbee.com/livinghere/story/1872492.html

Northern Ireland Tourist Board set to highlight the Alley's Sounds Like Summer Music Festival, supported by BT.

The BT Sounds Like Summer Music Festival 09 will be one of the major attractions used by the Northern Ireland Tourist board to entice visitors from the Republic of Ireland and the UK for breaks to Tyrone this summer.

Their new summer marketing campaign will be featuring the Alley’s hugely popular music festival, which is set to be even bigger and better than last year. On June 2nd the Derry based band, "The Landed Gentry", visited the Alley for a series of promotional shots, which will now go out across the UK and Ireland and will be seen in major press, billboard and advertising.

“We are delighted to see the Northern Ireland Tourist Board have recognised the Alley and The BT Sounds Like Summer Music Festival 09, supported by the Strabane Chronicle as one of the major attractions to be found in the Northern Ireland this year” commented Nathan Flatman, Marketing officer at the Alley.

For more information about The BT Sounds Like Summer Music Festival 09 and how your band could enter please click here