Video Pool staff, Board and members have been hard at work both achieving the goals set in its three-year strategic plan, as well as futher honing the plan itself. The complete strategic plan, including goals, action steps, timelines and responsibilities, is below. Please take the time to review it in order to understand how Video Pool is working to serve its members and community better. The plan will be discussed and suggestions entertained at Video Pool's March 22nd AGM.
MISSION
Video Pool Media Arts Centre is a non-profit artist run centre dedicated to advancing the discipline of media art by providing media artists, non-profit organizations and community groups with access to professional video and media equipment, training, distribution and programming.
VISION
Video Pool strives to be a national leader fostering innovation, experimentation, critical dialogue and advocacy in media arts.
1. FUNDING
GOAL: TO DIVERSIFY AND INCREASE OUR FUNDING WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE OPERATION.
1. To have some portion of our funding coming from planned giving.
A. Set up endowment with WF
i. Have representative from Winnipeg Foundation give presentation to the board (May 31, 2009)
ii. Raise $7500 for endowment (January 2009)
B. Have VP included in Canadian List of Charities
i. Get ad designed (May 31, 2007)
ii. Budget $ for an ad (January 15, 2007)
responsibility: Director (Sandee)
2. To see increased funding from foundations. (Ongoing)
A. submit 2 applications per year to Winnipeg Foundation (not just for equipment purchase) (September 30, December 30, May 30)
B. submit one application to Thomas Sill every second year (anytime)
C. seek a MAC bingo every year (December 1)
D. Follow up with Loewen Fnd. (March 2007)
E. Contact Asper Foundation (April 2007)
responsibility: Director (Sandee) and Dept. Heads
3. To seek increased project funding from all levels of funding. (most ongoing)
A. make a 3-year projected budget (August 2006)
B. develop budget scenarios (June 2007)
C. Canada Council project grants (Nov., May, June)
D. Arts’ Branch & CH&T (Ongoing)
i. VAAP (April)
ii. Archiving (Jan. 31/June 1)
iii. Community Arts (Mar., May, Oct. 1)
E. Advocate for project eligibility with MAC
F. Japan/Canada Fund (Nov. 1)
responsibility: Director (Sandee)
4. Participate in advocacy efforts to increase public funding for the arts. (Ongoing - March yearly report)
A. VERRUE meetings
B. Private meetings with officers
responsibility: Director (Sandee)
C. Get members involved with web links to IMAA, CARFAC and CCA
Web Editor (Hope)
5. Get out of debt (June 31, 2008)
A. Cut costs where possible
B. Plan surplus budgets
C. Don’t take on new expenses unless additional income is confirmed
D. Monitor revenue/expenses on monthly basis
E. Increase fundraising
responsibility: Director (Sandee) and Board
6. Investigate other sources of funding (i.e. corporate).
A. Meeting of staff and board re: contacts to approach for $: Multimedia Risk, Major suppliers, Film/multimedia looking for write-offs, Gaming industry, PS Manitoba (use connections), Ipsos, Pollard BN, GW Life (March 15, 2007)
B. Report back on progress (Feb. 2008)
C. Have special reception for donors (May 2007)
D. In-kind for everything possible: “We don't have $” will be our mantra
responsibility: Director (Sandee)
7. Collaborate with other centres: (updates at Quarterly - Producer Meetings)
A. share exhibition costs: venues, traveling exhibitions, co-presentation (reduce cash costs by $600)
B. share project costs
C. workshops/education: schools, other organizations, out-of-town-centres, workshop ‘tours’ with other centres for out-of-town artists (generate $2000 for admin., $6000 for equipment)
D. production, etc.: work out agreement with WFG, get other orgs to invest in having their artists work here
i. present plan for shared equipment acquisition (Fall PG meeting) responsibility: Tech. Coordinator (Rick)
ii. Information about VP membership for WFG members
iii. Set targets – how many memberships, and $ saved (June 2007) responsibility: Sandee
responsibility: Dept. Heads
2. VISIBILITY
GOAL: TO MAKE THE ORGANIZATION BETTER KNOWN LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
1. To establish and implement the mechanism to have two public member presentations each year. (January 31, 2007)
A. Strike an Events Committee of members at large (Sept. 2006)
B. Members’ screening (December 2006)
i. July/August combine with Funds (trial) (Summer 2007)
ii. Christmas screening with WFG (trial) (December 2007)
responsibility: Program Coordinator (Cam)
2. Create a marketing plan/model to promote programming.
A. Cam take volunteer centre workshop in events promotion (Sept. 2006)
B. Hope work with Cam to create promotional workflow/task list (Aug. 24, 2006)
C. Write it down (task list & timeline) (March 1, 2007)
D. Develop advertising strategy – meet w/ dept. heads to identify clients and how to reach them. (March 1, 2007) responsibility: Sandee
responsibility: Program Coordinator (Cam/Hope)
3. To professionalize our communication material (print, web page, press releases).(August 14, 2006)
A. Hope meets with Cam re: press release tips (Done)
B. Hope gives tips to all staff re: website updates (March 2007) responsibility: Hope
C. Meet with Poolside committee re: Poolside revisioning, responsibility: Sandee
i. Feb. 21 board meeting, present summary of Poolside (Feb. 21, 2007)
ii. Poolside Committee meets to act on the board’s recommendations (April 2007)
4. To establish an international artist in residence program or international artist exchange.
A. Identify artist (May 31, 2008)
B. Apply to MAC Special opportunities (Feb. 2007)
C. Apply to Japan Canada Foundation (Feb. 2007)
D. Apply to Winnipeg Foundation (Nov. 2007)
E. Contact overseas centres about possibility of exchange (May 2007)
F. Seek investment (Summer 2007)
responsibility: Director (Sandee)
5. Establish a newsletter and blog (newspage serves this purpose). (September 20, 2006)
A. Send out newsletter every 3 months
B. Should include info. about upcoming events and workshops
C. New equipment purchases highlighted
responsibility: Member Services (Nadin)
6. Present presentations to high school and post secondary media programs.
A. Presentations to Daniel Mac students (Sept. 2006)
B. Develop contacts with high schools and community groups (Oct. 2006)
C. Change job title from Education Coordinator to Education and Outreach Coordinator
D. Fundraise for extra staff hours devoted to outreach activities
E. Train the trainer classes (funded through School division) (Sept. 2008)
responsibility: Education (Jeff)
7. Create curated packages for international audiences. (Nov. 1, 2007)
A. Next CC Dissemination deadline: Nov. 1
B. Call for curated packages issued (July 2007)
C. Identify curator (Aug. 2007)
D. Create packages not based too much in language (Sept. 2007)
E. Create a standardized title template in Motion to unify look of package (intern) and account as part of VP’s inkind contribution to the project (Aug. 2007)
F. Develop timeline and milestones for student’s progress Nov. 1, 2007
responsibility: Distribution Coordinator (Gabriel)
3. COMMUNITY BUILDING
GOAL: TO HAVE AN INVITING ENVIRONMENT THAT INSPIRES CREATIVITY, DISCUSSION AND COLLABORATION. (August 30, 2006)
1. To create a lounge/resource centre dedicated to members. (April 1, 2007)
A. Make DVDs and VHS tapes available to members, but secure (April 1, 2007)
B. System to loan books to members (tab in tech. Log book) (April 1, 2007)
C. Sign in member’s lounge to inform members of these services (April 1, 2007)
D. E-mail station (done)
E. Bookmark sites of interest (e.g. rhizome, transartist, MAC…) (April 1, 2007)
F. Free Linux workstation (April 1, 2007) responsibility: Director (Sandee)
responsibility: Technical Staff (Nicole)
2. Identify and remove barriers to physical space & services (August 30, 2006)
A. Member orientations combat lack of knowledge about the org. (done)
B. Sandwich board in Artspace lobby lets people know we’re here, there’s something happening & we’re open (done)
C. Swipe cards – will be addressed by Artspace security upgrade (August 2007?)
D. Add this as an item for discussion at the AGM – what to do, how to do it, who will help? (March 22, 2007)
E. Meetings of stakeholders (members, Producers Group, other orgs) and web survey (June 30, 2007)
responsibility: Technical Staff (Nicole)
3. Establish an informal exchange for members (salon) (April 30, 2007)
A. find hosts (January 2007)
B. choose name for group (online contest) (March 2007)
C. establish method of advertising meetings, ongoing discussion (myspace page) (March 2007)
C. establish system for set up (i.e. tech. setup, bookings…) (April 2007)
D. establish set date (i.e. third Thursday of each month) (March 2007)
E. *Art’s Birthday ongoing event if self-sustaining & committee-driven
responsibility: Members' Committees (Clint & Stacey, Art’s Birthday Committee)
4. Orientation session for new members
A. offered every Saturday (done – Sept. 2006)
responsibility: Membership Coordinator (Nadin)
4. FACILITY
GOAL: TO HAVE IMPROVED FACILITIES TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH AND REFLECT NEEDS OF THE ORGANIZATION, MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY.
1. Establish a space committee. (done – June 30, 2006)
responsibility: Director (Sandee)
2. Establish minimum requirements for facility and list of wants. (August 30, 2007)
A. Completed for current facility Aug. 2006
B. Meet (involve Producers) again to vision for a NEW facility – list of needs (August 2007)
responsibility: Space Committee (Lorri)
3. Commission a feasibility study. (Jan. 30, 2009)
A. After a facility needs list is created
B. Feasibility of our fundraising capacity (alone and in partnership with another/other organization(s))
C. Feasibility plan for physical needs
D. Fundraise from Cultural Spaces, CAHSP or Flying Squad
responsibility: Director (Sandee)
4. Determine rent or buy. (Jan. 30, 2009)
A. What is financially feasible
B. What are the long-term advantages to renting/owning
C. Room to grow in 5 – 10 years
responsibility: Board/Producers Group (Lorri)
5. SERVICE TO MEMBERS
GOAL: TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS, ACCESSIBILITY AND DIVERSITY OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS.
1. Implement annual access fee. (done – September 1, 2006)
responsibility: Member Services (Nadin)
2. To review the need for another level of technical assistance for members and implement. (June 2007)
A. One night/week open late. Currently surveying members. Propose to PG at Spring/summer meeting. (September 1, 2007)
B. Technicians research models and implementation of pay for service at other centres (Sept. 2007)
C. Educate members about the role of techs – add to orientation (April 1, 2007)
responsibility: Nadin(?)
D. Quick help book (FAQs) (April 1, 2007) responsibility: Rick
responsibility: Director (Sandee), Technical Dept.(Heidi/Nicole)
3. Review and change the way Video Pool funds member projects. (done – September 1, 2006)
responsibility: Education Coordinator(Jeff)
4. Establish third floor printer (at cost) for members. (done – July 30, 2006)
responsibility: Technical Dept. (Heidi)
5. Establish a self marketing forum for artists. (done – August 15, 2006)
responsibility: Distribution Coordinator (Gabriel)
6. To improve services for artists working outside of single channel video. (Review Sept. 1 2007)
A. Workshops: Pure Data, circuit bending, experimental animation
B. Clear that all funds are for all (not just single channel video) artists
C. Surround Sound system established
Education Coordinator (Jeff), Technical (Mike)
7. To streamline the membership process for joint membership with WFG. (December 25, 2007)
A. One year waiting period waived in favour of checking with WFG staff re: member’s track record
B. Meet with Cecilia – what can we offer, how will we benefit, long-term strategy (Feb. 16, March 2, 2007)
C. Poll members for recommendations – AGM & online poll (March 30, 2007)
responsible: Director (Sandee)
8. To acquire diverse technologies. (Ongoing)
responsible: Technical (Rick & Nicole) and Producers Group
6. OUTREACH
GOAL: TO SEE MEDIA ART EMBRACED AND ACCESSIBLE TO DIVERSE PEOPLES IN MANITOBA.
1. Expand (at least doubled) delivery of media arts programs to high schools. (May 1, 2009)
responsible: Education (Jeff)
2. Create satellite resource centres outside Winnipeg in collaboration with local organizations (i.e. Thompson, Brandon) (May 30, 2008)
A. Meet with Jennifer (AGSM) and Kevin (Brandon University) (Summer 2007)
B. Maintain relationship with Thompson Arts Council
C. If we have no physical resources to establish centres elsewhere, what else can we contribute?
D. This will likely take a lot of funding. Running a satellite centre will require staffing and education
responsible: Director (Sandee), Education (Jeff)
3. Identify organizations serving the diverse peoples in Manitoba that could engage in media arts with Video Pool. (January 30, 2007)
A. Get a directory of service organizations
B. Call to set up dates for presentations on VP
C. Establish a small number of educational partnerships with community groups each year (Step Up program)
D. Already have program delivery (i.e. Pauingassi)
responsible: Director (Sandee), Education (Jeff)
4. Collaborate with organizations on programming, education and production to increase access to media art. (Ongoing)
A. Each department should propose and pursue (subject to approval) at least one partnership per year
B. Programming MUST partner
C. Meet with departments to develop a framework so that partnerships bring resources to Video Pool, not drain it. Overall, partnerships should be coordinated.
responsible: Dept. Heads
5. Offer New Media Art 101 to new members (September 30, 2006)
A. Developing a one-evening session of screenings and media art history background (Sept. 2007) responsible: Education (Jeff)
B. Offer in conjunction with programming events, responsible: Programming (Cam)
C. Collaboration with the university or WAG? (Feb. 2008) responsible: Sandee
D. Artist’s talks on website (more visible) (April 2007) responsible: Hope/Cam
6. Diversify our membership (i.e. explore affiliated memberships and removing barriers to minority groups) (May 30, 2007)
A. Focus group – identify barriers for members of cultural minorities to join Video Pool
B. Establish criteria for success – increase in members of diverse backgrounds, positive feedback)
C. Research statistics (internal and external) for participation in the arts/media art by culturally diverse people
responsible: Membership Services (Nadin), Director (Sandee)
