Written by A good way to start an enterprise is to gather a group of people. All the better if they are like-minded. But that can develop. These might be experts. Better yet, they will be enthusiasts, champions of a cause. Here is a mastermind.
You start by hanging out together (connected at a distance in our case). Just talk things over. Share interests, experiences and ideas. Who knows what will come of it! Ideas will flow. A common purpose might grow. Processes get refined and codified. A project might develop or change. Classes, courses, or even a university might start this way. Products might get created.
What’s the value of such a phenomenon? If the community is interesting it could attract others and grow. If the direction goes too niche, some might drop away. There could develop a way to make money. This could support some of the members. Anything is possible. What’ll it be?
Thanks very much for establishing this site, Fred. I can’t seem to get my profile visible, so I’ll write a bit here. As an art historian, I’ve been working on illustrated sheet music since 1996 and have curated multiple exhibitions on such topics as telephones, WWI (Red Cross nurses, mothers of soldiers, African American soldiers), the Civil War, Irish identities, Black composers, etc. The next one, That International Rag: Global Identities in Illustrated Sheet Music 1898-1948, opens at Auburn University (AL) next month. I’m chairing a session on the topic at the College Art Assn conference in NYC in Feb., and have given many professional and civic talks. I’ll share this website with audience members, so it should expand soon. Other music cover projects include those featuring monuments and memorials, baseball, lobster, and possum! Please let me know if you have anything relevant. I’ve gathered many digital images, but there are always new discoveries. Thanks.