Harrisburg, Pa -- Jun 13, 2014 -- An interactive arts map was unveiled during the PA Geospatial Information System (PA GIS) Conference in State College, Pennsylvania, on May 6, 2014. Developed by GeoDecisions, an information technology (IT) company specializing in geospatial and enterprise geographic information system (GIS) solutions, the mapping application makes it easier for the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts (PCA) to inform the public about arts education activities throughout the Commonwealth.
“Part of PCA’s long-range plan is to develop strategies, to share information, and to serve as an interactive resource for the arts,” said Jamie Dunlap, director of arts education for PCA based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “The arts map application created by GeoDecisions is an important step in this process and a powerful geospatial communications tool.”
Arts map users can build a custom report based on Pennsylvania Arts in Education (AIE) criteria including school teacher and artist partnerships, long-term artist residency projects, and art categories such as creative writing, film, and digital media.
During their PA GIS presentation, Dunlap and Gayle Cluck, AIE director with the Cultural Alliance of York County, Pennsylvania, explained how using the arts map achieves a positive arts education community impact. The duo also displayed a video from the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art (SAMA) located in Altoona, Pennsylvania, explaining the benefits of teaching artists and collaborating with school teachers.
“Through the AIE program, [a student’s] self-esteem grows, confidence grows, and this transcends directly into the classroom,” said Ann Benzel, Board of Trustees, SAMA. “The arts are so beneficial. I would plead with our legislators, I would plead with our community, to see the value in the arts.”
Cluck also discussed using the map’s data to show a Pennsylvania member of congress the range and scope of funding for arts in education through the PCA. “An integrated mapping application is a great way to convey an important message when time is of the essence and you are requesting federal funds,” said Cluck.
With technology similar to GeoDecisions’ Geospatial Analysis of Threats and Incident Reports (GATIR) and IRRIS® applications, the arts map is built on the Esri® ArcGIS API for Flex platform. To see the map in action, visit http://www.paartsmap.pa.gov/.
About the PCA:
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) is a state agency established in 1966. The mission of the PCA is to foster the excellence, diversity, and vitality of the arts in Pennsylvania and to broaden the availability and appreciation of those arts throughout the state. The PCA formed the Pennsylvania Arts in Education Partnership to enhance ongoing efforts to foster educational excellence through participation in the creative process through residencies, projects and partnerships between schools, artists and arts organizations. The PCA and its partners work with Pennsylvania schools to support curriculum, enrich the important work of arts educators, and provide opportunities for students to explore and develop their creative abilities.
About GeoDecisions:
GeoDecisions’ experienced staff of professional consultants, analysts, and developers support clients worldwide. Fundamental to the company’s award-winning approach is the integration of spatial information to empower existing systems and processes. GeoDecisions’ philosophy is based on an enterprisewide approach to the integration of diverse information technologies, data formats, and systems. We are proud to be an Esri Gold-tier Business Partner and ISO 9001:2008 Certified.
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