In Broad Social Media Campaign, NYC-ARTS Asks New York: "Does Art Matter?" with "#DoesArtMatter"

Audience members from all sectors are invited to join the conversation under #DoesArtMatter on Twitter and Tumblr, and at Facebook.com/NYCdashARTS

NEW YORK, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NYC-ARTS, WNET's multi-platform New York-area arts and culture resource, is launching a new social media campaign, #DoesArtMatter, to start a public dialogue about the role of the arts in modern society.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120322/DC74916LOGO)

Thinkers from Rumi to Rockefeller have written about the importance of art to society. With this campaign, NYC-ARTS gives the podium to the artist, teacher, designer, writer, politician, chemist, anthropologist, parent, child, journalist, psychologist and philosopher to discuss whether art matters, and why.

"In a city where the arts draw millions of tourists and visitors from around the globe, it is important to remember that art does matter," said New York Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee.

"WNET has been a leader in the arts for our nearly 50 years in existence, seeing the arts as a fundamental element of our educational mission," says Neal Shapiro, WNET President and CEO.  "This campaign marks the first time we've looked to social media to start a dialogue about a topic so essential to our contribution to the tri-state area: the value of the arts in society."

The simple connector of this campaign is the hash tag #DoesArtMatter. Beginning March 22, NYC-ARTS News Correspondent Christina Ha and the rest of the team on NYC-ARTS will ask television viewers and followers of @HaNYCARTS and @NYCARTS on Twitter to weigh in on the question, "Does Art Matter?"

"#DoesArtMatter uses a powerful multimedia presence to create a forum where individuals can pool their thoughts and questions about the role of art, particularly in a time of financial upheaval," says Dan Greenberg, General Manager of the Interactive Engagement Group at WNET.

Using its website and social media properties, NYC-ARTS will share quotes, videos, photos and links to related sources by arts groups and representatives from a wide range of fields, including the arts, science, education, politics, business and religion who have commented on how or why art matters. This is an open invitation to the public to contribute ideas and opinions, which can be aggregated by using the hash tag #DoesArtMatter in whatever medium a statement is placed (Tumblr, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, blog post, etc.).

#DoesArtMatter is supported, in part, by public funds provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

NYC-ARTS is made possible in part by First Republic Bank.  Funding for NYC-ARTS is also made possible by Rosalind P. Walter, The Paul and Irma Milstein Foundation, Elise Jaffe and Jeffrey Brown, Jody and John Arnhold, and The Lemberg Foundation. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional funding provided by members of THIRTEEN.

About WNET

New York's WNET is America's flagship public media outlet, bringing quality arts, education and public affairs programming to over 5 million viewers each week. The parent company of public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Need to Know, Charlie Rose, Tavis Smiley and a range of documentaries, children's programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online.  Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Noah Comprende and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state's unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJ Today and the new online newsmagazine MetroFocus.

About NYC-ARTS

NYC-ARTS aims to increase awareness of New York City's nonprofit cultural organizations, whose offerings greatly benefit residents and visitors—from children to adults, and teenagers to senior citizens. NYC-ARTS promotes cultural groups' activities and events to tri-state, national and international audiences through nonprint media, using new technologies as they develop. Through television, websites, mobile applications and social media, NYC-ARTS nurtures New York City's position as a thriving cultural capital of the world, one that has both world-renowned institutions and those that are focused on local communities.

NYC-ARTS online http://NYC-ARTS.org
NYC-ARTS on Twitter: http://Twitter.com/NYCARTS 
NYC-ARTS on Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/NYCdashARTS 
NYC-ARTS on Tumblr: http://NYC-ARTS.Tumblr.com

SOURCE WNET