Creating Local Arts Together 2.0: Building an Online Community through the Global Ethnodoxology Network

Abstract

The process for encouraging creativity to reach specific goals chosen by a community typically requires direct participation in the field. An arts advocate cannot rally for the use of the arts from afar, and intimate knowledge of a local community is critical for a successful outcome. However, with the onset of the virtual world as the new normal, unique online groups are forming over shared interests and identities. These groups fall under the definition of “community,” and as such, become possible venues where art consultants can encourage the use of the arts for people to thrive. An attempt to apply the Creating Local Arts Together approach to an online community is described here, highlighting each step of the process and detailing issues and concerns associated with bringing it online. With mostly positive results, we hope that our experience and insights gained will encourage subsequent exploration of doing creative, collaborative work in cyberspace.