CultureSource awarded grant to invest in digital infrastructure

CultureSource has been selected for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator program alongside other U.S. and U.K. based arts organizations that are focused on advancing the arts sectors use of technology.

The program helps strengthen arts organizations through strategic improvements to technology infrastructure, and fellows are supported as they work to develop and implement transformational technology at their organization.

CultureSource’s internal staff lead on the program will be Goode Wyche III, who joined our team in July and will now also take on the additional title of Bloomberg Tech Fellow.

Goode is excited to explore new ways to innovate with technology in partnership with Bloomberg to benefit the arts and culture ecosystem of Southeast Michigan.

“I’m honored to be a Bloomberg Tech fellow not only because I will be able to build on my experience in digital experimentation from presenting during the pandemic, but also because I can use this opportunity to build CultureSource’s capacity to serve our members through changemaking, identifying new opportunities, and developing innovative solutions that benefit the arts sector as a whole.”

Fellows work on a variety of projects including website redevelopment, customer relationship management and ticketing, content creation and distribution, digital archives, and digital asset management. Fellows are also supported with leadership development and offered training on best practices sharing learning across a network of nonprofit cultural organizations.

Launched in 2021, the program was designed to help arts organizations stabilize and thrive in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic through strategic improvements to technology infrastructure. Bloomberg Philanthropies has since invested $43 million in the Digital Accelerator program across various institutions in the U.S. and U.K.

Alongside the Digital Accelerator program, Goode will focus on integrating the programmatic offerings of EmcArts into CultureSource. CultureSource acquired nonprofit arts consulting firm EmcArts in 2022.

The Bloomberg program will provide structural support for the integration of EmcArts and CultureSource’s digital systems, as well as explore new methods to bring changemaking programs to local and national audiences via digital distribution.

CultureSource changemaking programs, informed by the work of EmcArts, will aim to help cultural organizations become more resilient in the face of financial, societal, and technological change.

Goode currently leads CultureSource’s efforts to help organizations build adaptive capacities, make change, and innovate iteratively. This suite of services will become even more robust as a result of the Bloomberg investment.

Prior to joining CultureSource, Goode served as a presenter at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where he navigated the adaptation of in-person programming to the virtual space during the pandemic through curated events that included a virtual jazz festival.