Midas launches new digital platform – The Arts Society Connected – on BBC Radio 4

On April 7th Midas PR launched The Arts Society Connected a new digital platform set up by The Arts Society, the UK’s leading arts education charity. Midas PR’s campaign resulted in 43,000 visits to the new platform in the first week, with the first art history lecture being viewed by over 16,500 people.

Free to both The Art Society’s 90,000 members as well as the general public, The Art Society Connected will host a series of fortnightly lectures by the UK’s leading art historians, as well as film screenings, and a community forum for anyone using the platform to connect. The charity is also offering free social media training to members to help them stay connected during this difficult time.

As The Arts Society moved incredibly quickly to launch the new platform for its members, Midas did as well, turning around a national PR campaign in 10 days, securing announcement coverage on BBC Radio 4: The Today Program, BBC News TV, BBC General News Service Radio, BBC Arts Online, Sky News, The Press Association, The Guardian and i newspaper.  Coverage also ran across 50 regional newspapers and 50 regional radio stations and specialist media including Art Daily, Arts & Collections, Artes and Antiques Trade Gazette.

The aim of the platform is to help older members of the population stay connected, educated, entertained and informed over the next three months. The core aims of the charity are to create a better, healthier and more connected society through the power of the arts to nourish and empower. The platform will create a welcoming community for both existing Members as well as the general public.

The Arts Society moved quickly in response to the COVID-19 crisis to create this digital platform because a large proportion of Members are aged 70 and above and will be forced to isolate over the coming months. The Arts Society consists of 380 individual Membership groups, who organise regular lectures and educational trips to museums and galleries throughout the year. With the inability of Members to meet in person, The Arts Society Connected will ensure that Members are able to stay connected online even while they remain in isolation.