Grassroots arts and e-business smarts found mutual benefits in a common cause in the City of Port Phillip. By redeveloping the Gasworks Arts Park website to increase its quality, reach and range, Web Prophets improved its expertise, widened its brand recognition and expanded its client base. This highly effective partnership won the National Australia Bank SME (small-medium enterprise) Award  and join five other AbaF award winners as Victorian representatives at the national AbaF Awards in Sydney on 25 October.

The Australian Business Arts Foundation (AbaF), an organisation established by the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, aims to promote private sector support for the arts.

The Web Prophets and Gasworks partnership was initiated during a networking evening organised by the City of Port Phillip to introduce AbaF to local businesses and art organisations in 2005. During this evening Web Prophets Director, Julia Topliss, and Gasworks’ then Marketing & Development Manager, Emily McClean, started chatting about how the two organisations could work together. Gasworks needed assistance with the redevelopment of their website, as well as a better method of handling their email communications to their contacts. Web Prophets was looking for a way to become more engaged with its local community and to develop its brand presence by expanding its portfolio of local websites.

Two years later, the partnership is in its second agreement with both parties really satisfied with the mutual outcomes. Not only has Web Prophets developed its portfolio, but Gasworks has contributed to this through substantial feedback on software development for Web Prophets and through recommendations to other businesses and organisations. In particular, Web Prophets’ Enews Manager has gone through a significant upgrade, improving its usability for all of Web Prophets customers through Gasworks’ input. The Gasworks website has almost completed its second generation with Web Prophets currently finalising enhancements that will streamline content management, and introduce a new section dedicated to the Art of Difference, Australia's premier international arts and disability program.

“The Award came as a total surprise for us,” commented Web Prophets Director Julia Topliss. “Being a small team, I am a bit stunned that our work has been recognised at a state level, and obviously extremely thrilled that our partnership has produced such great results both for Gasworks and Web Prophets.”

“It’s fitting the partnership between Gasworks and Web Prophets has been honoured at the state level,” said Ben Clark, Victorian manager of AbaF. “It’s an exemplary example of how business and cultural organisations can work collaboratively and successfully leverage their involvement with each other. Importantly, both parties and the community generated significant benefits from this partnership”

Gasworks Arts Parks and Web Prophets will now represent Victoria at a National Event to be held in Sydney on 25 October 2007.

Contact:

Crusader Hills
Gasworks Arts Parks
p: 03 8606 4200
e: chilis@gasworks.org.au

Julia Topliss
Web Prophets
p: 03 9534 1800
e: julia@webprophets.net.au

> www.nab.com.au