Kirby_Notes

Q+A with Guest Speaker Bill Kirby, Director of the CCCA.

A new project is underway to rework the visual arts website and it's logistics, from the previous [|disaster] to the new [|Proposed VA Content] and beyond.

Some mentioned 'requirements' for the final solution:
 * interface must maintain consistency and continuity within the same general URL while bringing in / outsourcing materials from other links and databases available throughout the current YorkU website.
 * correlate between the original information and content, i.e calendars and news, but feed into the new visual arts website.
 * integrating video footage as well as time-based communication and art
 * to instill the "small community" and VA creative experience, drawing away from the corporate 'schulic' mandate
 * no twitter account!
 * showcasing of the facilities, labs, studios, classes, workshops, equipment, and public spaces on campus through images, pictures, photographs, video.
 * create a visual arts portal – i.e links to other VA resources on campus, related information links, contact information, links to separate departments, ext..
 * useful and functional for existing students as well as prospective students, and include sections for alumni and faculty staff
 * final interface is easy to update and maintain, without needing elaborate coding.
 * perhaps provide a better mapping / interactive system for the VA campus area
 * include testimonials throughout the VA website as opposed to a ‘testimonial list’, as well as providing the testimonials in an interactive/video format
 * providing each departments and programs resources such as the handbook, the degree requirements, visual arts academics info, ext…
 * showcase the art galleries at YorkU, as well as their openings, exhibits, photos, ext…
 * link and work with the visual arts resource centre, it’s databases, lists, images, Canadian artists databases, ext…
 * provide a research section to help browse archives and special collection searches, or link to some reference materials on researching/searching through special collections/databases.


 * Maintaining content easily to be able to update as they wish. With an open source, staff, colleagues could update instead of the web designers job to update manually. They could maintain the content elsewhere and be fed in to the existing site.
 * Focusing on the people. With visual arts being a dynamic community full of potential, they would like to focus on the people. Have lots of visuals to show that, and allowing future students to see what coming to York University for Visual Arts would be like.
 * Content doesn't have to stay the way it is. There are potential possibilities and new ideas to unfold. Lots of organization to be considered in a variety of new ways!
 * Alumni could pop up in different sections and come up in headings to show what they thought about the department. Have people and their Visual Arts experiences in the department.
 * Handbook is the most important section. Thinking of ways to have an interactive piece itself. Building a search function.