About
A2:Connect, an arts and education network connecting schools and creatives wanted to reach more people in education, arts education and community arts, to promote their services; and share everyone’s learning.
This was at a time when schools are familiarising themselves with Wales’ new curriculum, and the need to develop creative learning approaches.
A2:Connect was the arts and education network for the central south area of Wales, covering Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Vale of Glamorgan. It was initiated as part of the all-Wales education programme, Creative learning through the arts. This is the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government action plan for children and young people across Wales.
How I helped
Anita covered the role of Digital Content Producer for two years, creating website blogs and resources, a regular enewsletter, and managing the social media channels. Through these we helped to share learning and good practice, advocate for the arts in schools, and encourage teachers and creatives to connect and work together.
It achieved good engagement and follow-through to the website via social media, and above-average opens and click-throughs for enewsletters (39% opens, 15% clicks on average – compared with an average for arts and culture of 15% opens and 6% clicks).
Plwg: connecting people working in arts, culture and education
Central to the A2:Connect website was an ‘Opportunities’ section of the website, which enabled teachers looking for artists/creatives/cultural organisations, or artists/creatives/ cultural organisations looking for teachers, to connect and collaborate.
This was developed into a new all-Wales arts, culture and education matchmaking website called Plwg, supported by all four arts and education networks. Anita was commissioned to liaise with all four networks to ensure a structured and cohesive approach to developing the concept.
The work involved writing a comms strategy, commissioning promotional videos and animations, drafting a flow diagram for sign-up data ownership, copywriting for the Plwg website and planning the official launch campaign. The campaign used quotes from personalities and leaders in Wales about the impact the arts had made on their lives. These were turned into animated social media posts.
The campaign succeeded in prompting a high proportion of shares, a fast growth in users signing up, posting opportunities, and connecting with each other.