BALTIMORE, Md. (January 5, 2009) — Fastspot, an interactive agency headquartered in Baltimore, Md., has launched a second awards Web site that features social media tools, according to Tracey Halvorsen, creative director and principal.
The Baker Artists Awards, a competition established in 2008 by the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, is open to artists working in a variety of disciplines and media such as painters, writers, musicians and sculptors and who reside in the city of Baltimore as well as the five surrounding counties.
In addition to social media tools such as online voting, a comment area for each nominated artist, and e-mail alerts, the site features a gallery format similar to that found in a museum.
The artists are vying for several cash prizes of at least $20,000 each as the result of a private juried process. Additionally the general public is voting on the Baker Artists Award site for their favorite artists to receive one of two Baltimore Choice awards with cash prizes totaling $5,000.
“We designed the site to make it easy for artists to nominate themselves,” Halvorsen said. “They simply hit a button and upload their portfolio along with descriptions of their work and their bios. They can also add new work to their online portfolio. And we made voting just as easy.”
For example, people can vote for more than one artist as well as track votes. Additionally, they can receive e-mail alerts when artists have added new work to their online portfolio.
“An exciting by-product of the concept and design of the site is the exposure that the general public and the artists have to the amazing talent we are fortunate to have in the greater Baltimore area,”Halvorsen said.
Nominations continue to be accepted until February 1 and winners will be announced in March.
In 2006, Fastspot pioneered the use of social media tools for awards programs when it conceived, designed and programmed the Web site for the People’s Design Award for the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City.
Early in the first year of this award, the site was mentioned on the home page of Yahoo.com resulting in 4 million unique visitors in a single day. Now in its third year, the site continues to receive thousands of nominations and tens of thousands of votes.
About Fastspot
Fastspot is a premiere interactive agency, widely recognized for its strategic award-winning work, collaborative approach with its clients and its ability to deliver successful, long-lasting solutions. Headquartered in Baltimore, the firm works with clients across the country who seek to develop highly creative and complex marketing, advertising or business solutions. The firm has a particular expertise working with associations, colleges and universities, museums and cultural organizations, architectural and technology firms. For more information, visit http://www.fastspot.com.
