And the results are in!
The results of the fall membership survey are in. Thanks to Marilyn Wescott for all the work she did surveying the Guild membership. Now that we have the information, it is the obligation of the Board to implement improvements to help the Guild succeed.
An overwhelming 69% of the 52 respondents said the Guild is meeting their artistic needs either extremely well or very well while just 6% (3 people) of the respondents indicated the Guild was not meeting their needs.
A recurring theme is the desire for more formalized instruction so that artists may continually improve. Some responses indicated the need to have more “fun” (less professional) instructional activities and more classes in other media during weekend and nights as well. We have addressed this by adding the evening pottery classes, weekend drawing and resin classes. We will be adding more in the near future.
Several respondents indicated they enjoy the time at the Guild and the friendships they have made. They appreciate the opportunity to learn and grow. And they think positively of the studio size. Two responses indicated that some members are territorial and may not be as kind as they could be. I hope we can all learn and be mindful of that!
A few of you suggested the Guild needs to communicate better. I hope you have noticed a big improvement in our weekly emails, web site and facebook presence… thanks to Stacey Selleck, Communications Chair. And, per your request, a suggestion box is now in the studio for your recommendations. More good things are on the way we promise! Along with that, you indicated that we need to involve the membership more, have more specific volunteer duties published, and to better announce who is on what committee to foster collaboration.
More community involvement and support of other art galleries and shops was also indicated. And finally, a need to retain and recognize new members better. We do agree that we should implement a mentorship program. Anyone want to take the lead on this?
We do want you to know that we appreciate your suggestions and we are working hard to make the necessary improvements. All-in-all, most of the results were extremely positive. A whopping 98% of you indicated you are either very likely or somewhat likely to recommend the Guild to other potential members.
So, with all this being said, please reach out to new people you haven’t met before. If you are skilled in a particular medium, please step up and offer to teach a class or, at the very least, share some constructive and positive pointers with your fellow artist. Remember, we all benefit from each other, be extra kind, and welcoming. We are here because we have a common thread of having a passion for art!
Valerie Brandau, WPAG President