As part of our 2018-2019 Strategic Plan, we identified the need to refresh our website. We are pleased to announce this strategic objective has been completed. To begin understanding the needs and views of our members and donors, we incorporated a survey to address key on-line refresh objectives such as design, functionality and member uses. The survey results were analyzed by board member (now president and board chair) Garrett Adams (MBA), and the summary results communicated in the spring 2018 newsletter. The refresh includes several key data points from the survey that guided our development;
Utility
- Nearly 85% of members and donors use the website to learn about upcoming events
- 70% of our members and donors use the site to learn more about the paintings and the Historic Site itself
Functionality
- 80% of donors report that they access the site via a mobile phone and/or a tablet.
- Approximately 60% of donors indicate the current website is only “somewhat easy to navigate”
One thing you would add/change
- Mobile-friendly
- Better online payment/donation option
As time has passed since redesign and refresh, we have received many comments regarding the mobility functionality, and the improvement of the online payment/donation function. We have received member feedback that navigation has improved dramatically!
Now included on the site is a “virtual gallery” with an inventory of over 50+ paintings now, and we plan to have one additional bi-weekly moving forward. We hope you visit the site regularly. While you will find some familiar T.C. Steele paintings, we are also focusing on the broad array of Steele’s body of work, and where possible including background, history, provenance.
We recently heard from Friends member Kathy Barton who said this about “Sunlight Late Summer” in our virtual gallery:
“I love the way the sun catches the grasses revealing the cows are up to their tummies in good things to eat!”
Kathy Barton
We are also showcasing Steele paintings that are not easily seen. For example, look under Art of Steele for the Steele painting donated by T.C. Steele (Untitled Waveland) for the grand opening of the Waveland Public Library on April 17, 1915. This Carnegie library is located within a block of Steele’s boyhood home.
Much credit must be given to our graphic designer and web developer Laura Pence of Media Nouveau in Bloomington. Her expert knowledge and creative approach is among the best; we look forward to her ongoing updates and work behind the scenes to make this website high functional and engaging to all members, donors, stakeholders and visitors.
Coming Soon
Check out podcast.tcsteele.org for updates on our new podcast series “Steele on Steele”.