MB Press Release 3-2006

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2006

Contacts:
Marlo Fogelman/Nicole Dombrowski
marlo marketing/communications
617-375-9700

Aria McElhenny
New England Foundation for the Arts
amcelhenny@nefa.org
617/951-0010 x25

MATCHBOOK.ORG TO IGNITE NEW ENGLAND ARTS SCENE
Free, Ground-Breaking Performing Arts Marketplace Goes Live

Boston; March 1, 2006 – New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) and the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) today announced the launch of MatchBook.org, a comprehensive online cultural marketplace designed to bring together New England’s performing artists and the people and organizations wishing to present them. This free website uses some of today's most innovative technology to stimulate New England's burgeoning arts economy by serving the region's performing artists and the people and places that hire them.

Historically, NEFA and the state arts agencies in New England have helped broker opportunities between artists and presenting organizations by using traditional communication methods such as conferences and published artist rosters. With the launch of MatchBook.org, technology promises to revolutionize these methods by breaking geographic and communication barriers, ideally leading to increased visibility for artists and more efficient business transactions within the arts community.

MatchBook.org functions as a comprehensive, user-friendly directory of New England’s performance spaces, artists and organizations, containing tools and resources that help ‘match’ artists with the theatres, event planners, community centers, libraries, schools, galleries, clubs and coffeehouses that hire – or ‘book’ – them to perform.

“We are thrilled to officially introduce MatchBook.org to New England’s performing arts community,” remarked Rebecca Blunk, Executive Director of NEFA. “This is a truly revolutionary tool that demonstrates both the tremendous wealth of performing arts in New England, and the role that technology can play in helping these artists connect with audiences and enrich our lives. Over time, MatchBook.org will expand opportunities for countless communities."

For performing artists, whose broad category includes music, dance, theater and the spoken word, the site offers free access to high-quality online marketing. Artists can create a profile, including background information, photos, fees and references that can be retrieved using the site’s search functionality. Additionally, a suite of tools enables artists to post and maintain online portfolios featuring video and audio streaming technology which is typically cost-prohibitive for self-employed artists.

Presenters, who can be defined as any person or venue that hires an artist, include an enormous range of possibilities—from a 2,000-seat theater to a Parent-Teacher Organization. For this group, the site acts as a management resource for discovering appropriate artists, viewing work samples, scheduling acts, tracking bookings and creating and negotiating contracts.

For both performers and presenters, MatchBook.org offers the latest news on grants and professional development opportunities, including workshops, conferences and artist showcases happening throughout New England. Facility managers can also use the site to market their venues for rental for private events or other uses.

Initiated and administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, in partnership with the state arts agencies of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, construction on the site began in the summer of 2004. At launch, MatchBook.org features profiles on over 800 artists from NEFA’s New England States Touring roster, as well as a growing volume of performance spaces. The site is open to any New England-based performing artist or presenter, all of whom are encouraged to register at no cost and create their online profile in order to expand the online marketplace throughout the region. To register and create a free profile, artists and presenters should visit www.matchbook.org.

Journalists can also connect to an online web press conference Monday, March 20 at 10 a.m. Representatives from NEFA and MCC will walk through the site and highlight some of its key features. For more information call Greg Liakos at MCC at 617-727-3668 ext. 343.

New England Foundation for the Arts creatively supports the movement of people, ideas and resources in the arts within New England and beyond, makes vital connections between artists and audiences, and builds the strength, knowledge and leadership of the region’s creative sector. NEFA is a 501c3 that operates with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New England state arts agencies, and from corporations, foundations and individuals.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council promotes excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities.

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