20 Easy Ways to Promote Arts & Culture Along Light Rail

Posted on 04. Aug, 2010 by Jim McPherson in Featured, News

Jim McPherson is one of six guest bloggers being featured on LRB over the next several days. Chances are you’ve seen some of the causes Jim champions, like spreading the word about downtown Phoenix issues on Downtown Voices Coalition and shining the spotlight on Arizona’s historic gems on the Arizona Preservation Foundation Facebook page.

Tony asked me to be a guest blogger while he’s traipsing around Spain and the Netherlands, no doubt spending the majority of his time comparing and contrasting U.S. versus European rail systems.  Uhh, maybe not.

In mulling over what I should blog guest-wise about, I conjured up my previous two posts on this site: 10 easy ways to promote business along light rail and 10 easy ways to promote neighborhood events along light rail. Do you see a trend here?  Do you see where I’m heading?

While I could be charged by Sheriff Joe with redundancy, I’m still not sure everyone and everything within shouting distance of the METRO light rail line is taking full advantage of what light rail can “bring to the table” for them.  Are clients or meeting attendees dropping by your office via light rail (and not having to worry about where-to-park-where-to-park)?  Are Red Hat Society ladies dining at your restaurant?  Are suburbanites tinged with nostalgia attending your historic home tour?  If the answer is “no” or “you mean they can really do that?,” then peer down to the appropriate bullet point:

• If you’re a business, go here.
• If you’re a neighborhood group, click now.

So here’s the twist to this trifecta of “10 easy ways.” Upon review, I’ve noticed that a combination of tips in the previous two lists can apply to the numerous arts and cultural sites along light rail that add so much to the quality of life of our communities.  Since National Arts and Humanities Month is coming up in October, it’s time to start a-plannin’.  And because artists are known for going “over the top,” let me go over the top as well by listing not just 10 – no, no, no! – but 20 easy ways to promote arts and culture along light rail:

1. Add nearest light rail stop and map on your website.
2. Add light rail stop on any press release you issue.
3. Add light rail stop on any print ads you do.
4. Add light rail stop on any billboards you do.
5. Add light rail stop on your business card.
6. Add light rail stop on your e-mail auto-signature.
7. Communicate light rail news and information in your patron print or e-newsletter.
8. Provide a link to METRO’s Arts and Culture Ride Guide.
9. Communicate targeted messages on your exterior signage or marquee.
10. Use social media to communicate to light rail fans and advocates.
11. Pitch stories about patrons who use light rail to METRO and the media.
12. Advertise on light rail buses and stops (if the budget allows).
13. Adopt a light rail stop.
14. Create a light rail special discount, possibly through Culture Pass.
15. Create a light rail special menu item or drink (if you serve refreshments on-site).
16. Participate in the Metro Max program.
17. Ensure affiliate groups possess your most updated information, including your light rail stop (e.g., showup.com, Arizona Commission on the Arts, and your city’s office of arts and culture).
18. Host a light rail meet-up.
19. Incorporate a light rail or transportation themed activity into your programming (e.g., a play, a musical piece, a gallery showing).
20. Surprise light rail passengers with a spur of the moment performance.

Now here’s a paragraph for all of you who are scratching their heads and saying, “I’m not an employee of an arts or cultural organization.  What’s in this blog posting for me, me, me?”  How about this?… With all the talk swirling around our heads about economic boycotts, stay-cations, and buy local, now is a good time to be cultural tourists in our own backyard — not only to benefit our arts community and local economy, but for our own mental health as well.

To you regular Joe’s and Josie’s out there, get out! To you arts and cultural groups out there, get the word out!

Tags: adopt-a-station, Arizona Commission on the Arts, art, cultural tourism, culture, Culture Pass, historic, Joe Arpaio, mental health, Mesa, METRO, METRO Max Rewards, Netherlands, Phoenix, Red Hat Society, showup.com, Spain, stay-cation, Tempe