What are the most effective ways to increase alumni engagement with the arts?

1 Offer diverse and accessible opportunities

The first step to increase alumni engagement with the arts is to offer a variety of opportunities that appeal to different interests, preferences, and backgrounds. You can do this by hosting or partnering with events such as concerts, exhibitions, performances, workshops, lectures, or festivals that feature the work of your faculty, students, or alumni artists. You can also leverage online platforms and social media to share and promote the arts content and activities that your institution produces or supports. Make sure that your events and platforms are accessible, inclusive, and affordable for your alumni, and that you communicate the value and benefits of engaging with the arts.

2 Involve and recognize alumni artists

The second step to increase alumni engagement with the arts is to involve and recognize your alumni artists in your events and platforms. You can do this by inviting them to participate, perform, exhibit, or speak at your events, or by featuring their work, stories, or achievements on your website, newsletter, magazine, or social media. You can also create awards, scholarships, or grants to honor and support your alumni artists, or establish networks, mentorships, or collaborations among them. By doing this, you can showcase the talent and impact of your alumni artists, and inspire and motivate other alumni to engage with the arts.

3 Encourage and facilitate peer-to-peer interactions

The third step to increase alumni engagement with the arts is to encourage and facilitate peer-to-peer interactions among your alumni around the arts. You can do this by creating or supporting alumni groups, clubs, chapters, or associations that are focused on the arts, or by integrating the arts into your existing alumni groups or activities. You can also provide opportunities for your alumni to connect, network, socialize, or volunteer with each other through the arts, such as by hosting or attending alumni receptions, mixers, or reunions at your events, or by organizing or joining alumni-led arts projects, initiatives, or campaigns. By doing this, you can foster a sense of belonging and community among your alumni, and build long-lasting relationships based on shared passions and values.

4 Solicit and act on feedback

The fourth step to increase alumni engagement with the arts is to solicit and act on feedback from your alumni about their interests, needs, and expectations regarding the arts. You can do this by conducting surveys, polls, interviews, or focus groups with your alumni, or by creating or joining online forums, groups, or communities where your alumni can share their opinions, suggestions, or questions about the arts. You can also monitor and measure the impact and outcomes of your events and platforms, such as by tracking attendance, registration, participation, satisfaction, retention, or donations. By doing this, you can understand and address the challenges and opportunities of engaging your alumni with the arts, and improve and innovate your strategies and practices.

5 Collaborate and partner with other stakeholders

The fifth step to increase alumni engagement with the arts is to collaborate and partner with other stakeholders who are involved or interested in the arts, such as your faculty, students, staff, donors, sponsors, or community members. You can do this by creating or joining committees, teams, or groups that plan, organize, or execute your events and platforms, or by seeking or offering support, resources, or expertise to enhance your events and platforms. You can also leverage or create synergies, alignments, or complementarities among your events and platforms and those of your partners, such as by co-hosting, co-sponsoring, or cross-promoting them. By doing this, you can increase the reach, impact, and quality of your events and platforms, and create a culture of collaboration and partnership around the arts.

6 Celebrate and share your successes

The sixth and final step to increase alumni engagement with the arts is to celebrate and share your successes with your alumni and other stakeholders. You can do this by acknowledging and thanking your alumni, partners, and supporters for their involvement and contribution to your events and platforms, or by highlighting and showcasing the achievements and outcomes of your events and platforms. You can also share stories, testimonials, or case studies that illustrate the value and benefits of engaging with the arts for your alumni and your institution, or invite your alumni to share their own experiences, insights, or learnings from engaging with the arts. By doing this, you can reinforce and sustain your alumni engagement with the arts, and inspire and attract more alumni to join you.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?