The e-mails arrive weekly. News of an additional Sunday performance of The Beauty Queen of Leenane at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Discounted tickets for an upcoming Cincinnati Ballet performance. Free shows by Ensemble Theatre's acting interns.
Surf to www.etastart.com and it's clear how the Internet has enabled Enjoy the Arts/Start (ETA) to achieve its mission of offering students and young adults an inexpensive way to fully experience the Greater Cincinnati arts scene. Their impact can be found at local box offices. For the Playhouse's additional performance of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, 100 reservations were made by ETA members.
But ETA/Start is in danger of losing its Internet presence in mid-May when Cincinnati Bell discontinues its free maintenance of area arts organizations' Web sites. Their pro bono charity is over. "We've been lucky that Cincinnati Bell has been able to do this for us for so long," says ETA Assistant Director Joelle Daniel.
Rumors about Cincinnati Bell ending its Web maintenance collaborations have circulated since last fall. But Daniel was formally notified by certified mail only six weeks ago. Since then, she's been busy looking at options. In similar hot water are The Contemporary Arts Center, Playhouse in the Park, Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, May Festival, Starling Chamber Orchestra and the Cincinnati Fire Museum.
Arts organization won't speak poorly about local businesses. After all, they might turn out to be potential funders. "We understand fully how the decision was made," Daniel says.
Business realities can take precedence over civic charity. Besides, it's hard to paint Cincinnati Bell -- sponsor of the Fine Arts Fund Sampler Weekend -- as a complete villain.
Still, Cincinnati Bell's timing couldn't be worse. Snail mail no longer provides the marketing oomph necessary for arts groups desperate to attract younger audiences. Emerging arts groups use the Internet as a way to communicate with clientele without the high cost of paper, typesetting and postage. The Internet and the arts community make a perfect match. The problem is that arts organizations need a company with the vast technical expertise to make it happen. Basically, they need Cincinnati Bell.
ETA subscribers use the Internet. They surf Web sites on a daily basis. They're computer savvy. When ETA informs them about last-minute ticket discounts, they respond enthusiastically. The Internet has also helped ETA directly. As many as 300 new members joined ETA via its Web site.
"We've never had such a direct line of communication," Daniel says. "All it takes is a phone call, and 15 minutes later the information is out ... reaching our members."
Cincinnati Bell's free deal remains for local media partners like WOXY-FM and CityBeat. Cincinnati Bell e-Business team member Brandon Armstrong was unable to be reached. Still, it's fair to assume that Cincinnati Bell decided it couldn't spend the time or money to maintain arts organizations' Web sites anymore. There is too much money to be made on e-commerce.
Currently, the Contemporary Arts Center is soliciting new partners to maintain its Web site. Playhouse in the Park is also negotiating with new Web providers. Chances are the larger arts organizations will face little problem establishing new relationships. There's always the hope for support from "Digital Rhine" dot.com start-ups along Main Street.
The greater struggles lie with smaller groups like ETA.
ETA could buy the software and maintain the Web site itself. The problem is finding the time with a shoestring staff. Individual funders are being sought to pay the cost of remaining with Cincinnati Bell. The costs are substantial for a small organization. ETA will move forward with or without Cincinnati Bell. We can only hope their Web site doesn't go dark in the meantime.
