The art of digital literacy: Studio A and Meeum

^{Image: Emily Crockford painting a mural for Westpac Concord. 2018. Photo by Mamie Chen}

Sydney-based Studio A supports professional development pathways for artists living with intellectual disability.

And Studio A represents serious artists. Artworks from its stable sit in major collections around the country. In 2022, four of Studio A’s artists – Thom Roberts, Meagan Pelham, Emily Crockford and Catherine McGuiness – were finalists in Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize, the Archibald. Victoria Atkinson, a previous Archibald finalist, was also in the running for this year’s Sulman prize for object, subject or mural painting.

“Just because we work with artists with disabilities doesn’t mean we are art therapists,” says Studio A’s Digital Solutions Manager, Christopher Haysom.

“Being an artist is difficult for anyone. Our artists are fluent in art, but they may need help to negotiate contracts or to physically get to an exhibition. Studio A comes in to bridge that gap and create a level playing field.”

As a social enterprise, Studio A builds a community of practice for artists, providing working studio space, specialist materials and support staff, facilitating public workshops, an annual exhibition program and an online catalogue. Studio A’s complex business had many moving parts, and its systems were constantly playing catch-up.

When Studio A signed up for the Australia Council’s Digital Strategist-In-Residence program, the initiative offered the team an opportunity to audit its digital capability, identify gaps and explore opportunities to expand its digital activities. With the help of digital consultants Meeum, Studio A has transformed how its people work and how they support the artists they represent.

Enter Elyse Maberley, one half of Meeum – a business that builds digital literacy and, as Elyse says, “supports digital empowerment”.

^{Image: Thom Roberts with his painting A Portriff of Adam (Shane Simpson AM) hanging in the 2021 Archibald Prize. Photo: Studio A}

Looking through a new lens

Elyse’s unique skill set includes sociology and creative industries degrees, experience as founder of a culture change consultancy and previous senior executive roles. Meeum’s other cofounder Sam Hemphill is a musician and tour manager turned coder. Together they bring a distinct perspective on digital transformation.

“Studio A’s team underestimated their digital capability,” Elyse says. Digital is as much about culture and people – “how they interact with systems and each other” – as it is about technology. “Because of our lens and skillset, we could look at the whole business, rather than take a blinkered technology approach.”

Digital isn’t just Facebook ads or servers or email programs. It’s how you engage with tools and ways of working and being.”

Elyse Maberley, Founder, Meeum

Meeum helped Studio A establish six priority areas – with top of the list a new e-commerce solution. “We have a catalogue with 3,000-plus artworks that our artists have built up over the years. But our e-commerce platform currently houses less than 100 items due to the complexity and unique nature of our organisation,” Christopher explains.

With Meeum’s help, Studio A developed a clear vision for the ecommerce solution. “We helped them develop their strategy, look at proposals, refine the shortlist and choose the supplier,” Elyse says, adding that the new online shop will open later this year.

“Sam had the expertise to guide us through the nitty gritty technical, and then Elyse is incredibly skilled in the people and culture space. We could cover a lot of ground and come out with a robust RFP,” Christopher notes.

“Bringing everyone together to overlook all aspects of the organisation through a digital lens was eye-opening for the team. It reinforced and clarified with everyone that we are running a digital business.”

Christopher Haysom, Digital Solutions Manager, Studio A

^{Image: Magical Putt Putt, installation view, Cement Fondu, 2022. Photo: Jessica Maurer}

Learning digital fluency

“We have a unique way of working with our artists, of building relationships and developing accessible practices,” Christopher says. “How do we ensure this good work continues beyond us?” To answer this Studio A created what it calls the ‘Studio A Way’ – a resource that outlines the organisation’s culture and legacy.

“Studio A has remarkable ways of scaffolding and supporting artists,” Elyse observes. “This ethos can benefit all arts organisations, not just those working with artists with disabilities.”

The Digital Strategist-in-Residence program took Studio A’s entire team on the journey, Christopher adds. “To execute the program successfully we had many conversations with people who didn’t think they were the ‘tech person’”.

“Our work with Meeum lifted people’s confidence and awareness of how they were unconsciously incorporating technology into their work. Team members who had said ‘I don’t do tech’ are now recording video tutorials to teach others how to navigate technology.”

As a champion of “digital fluency”, Elyse is determined to remove the “geekery superiority” associated with technology – and she has a clear message for other arts organisations looking to replicate Studio A’s success. “The Digital Strategist-in-Residence program proves that tech and digital is for everyone.”

The Digital Strategist-In-Residence has now evolved into the Digital Specialist-in-Residence program. Find out more.