To date we have created a number of sets, usually to document an event at the art museum, and some groups that support specific projects. Lately, though, whenever someone says, “I have this great project and want to share it…”, we respond with, “Flickr!” And while it is true that we will be creating a handful of new sets that feature some super-cool behind-the-scenes images, we also have some other stuff up our sleeves, too.

Recently we have started thinking more seriously about what Flickr can really do for us, or more accurately what it can do for you. We have evolved in our thinking about it primarily as a place to share memories of things past and are newly focused on making what we share more exciting and encouraging you to share your own stuff. How are we doing it?

First of all, we are creating more sets and groups and thinking about how we manage them, promote them and what role they play in our on-line exploits. The most recent example is coming to the To Live Forever site. We have created a set that plays a role on the site by adding visitor feedback that puts faces with ideas, and we are working on a collaborative group for the site, too (come back soon to hear more about that). We hope that individuals will engage with the TLF site through the Flickr components and find ways to make personal connections to the big idea of that exhibition.

We have created groups in the past, most recently the big push was the ‘My Fashion’ group we created to offer Project IMA designers a place to share their fashion with the world. While these images weren’t IMA produced, the goal of the group wasn’t really all that community driven…we had an objective and mediated the content through partnerships with contributors to offer IMA site visitors additional content. This project was good and useful for Project IMA, but it really didn’t express our desire to build online communities. So what’s the difference?

We have discovered that the difference is in the process. Sort of like the difference between good science and bad science. Allowing the experiment to reveal its own results versus having an objective to prove and building an experiment that will make it true. Even though we created ‘My Fashion,’ to support an IMA project, it has taken on a life of its own, with new members outside of the scope of our project contributing to a new identiy for that group. It is this evolution that I find most compelling.

While we have learned a lot seeing our own Flickr projects change and grow, we also keep an eye on what the museum community is up to. We were recently shamed and inspired by the Tate’s new Flickr project, Street and Studio. (Check it out and enter!) And we are always learning a thing or two from the Brooklyn Museum, that recently made its way onto The Commons. (Congrats!)

There are also some museums that we would love to see more active on Flickr, like the van Gogh Museum that has a mere 15 images. That number seems disproportionate for the insanely popular artist it represents. On the flip side, the Milwaukee Art Museum has a visually rich display of images with a contemporary feel. If you are a museum considering Flickr, check out all the names I am dropping and perhaps this article or this one will push you through any remaining doubt…

As for us, over the next couple of months you will start to see a couple of different things from IMA…you will still see sets, but more of them will have more heavy-hitting content that will give you a glimpse into the real work of an art museum. You will also see groups that ask you to contribute with renewed focus on what your ideas will combine to create. In my opinion we haven’t yet been very successful as Flickr scientists, but we are observing, learning and internalizing and we will get better. While our efforts have at times been a bit clumsy, they are sincere, so I hope you will visit us on Flickr and come along for the ride as we figure it all out.