{"id":65135,"date":"2025-06-26T15:23:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T19:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/?p=65135"},"modified":"2025-09-01T02:29:31","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T06:29:31","slug":"artists-thrive-sogolytics-client-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sogolytics.com\/blog\/artists-thrive-sogolytics-client-story\/","title":{"rendered":"When Artists Thrive, Communities Do, Too: Artists Thrive + Sogolytics"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Heather Pontonio, helping artists reflect on their work isn\u2019t about grading or scoring \u2014 it\u2019s about sparking change. Through the Artists Thrive initiative, Heather and her team built a set of self-assessment tools that inspire honest conversations and guide growth. But bringing those tools online without losing their depth proved to be a challenge \u2014 until they found Sogolytics.<\/p>\n

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Helping Artists Reflect, Grow, and Thrive<\/h2>\n

When Heather Pontonio talks about Artists Thrive, she lights up. As Senior Program Director at the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, she\u2019s seen firsthand how powerful reflection can be \u2014 not just for individual artists, but for the entire arts ecosystem.<\/p>\n

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\u201cArtists Thrive was built to raise the value of artists in every community,\u201d Heather explains. \u201cWe give people tools to step back, see where they are in their artistic life, and think about where they want to go next.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Those tools \u2014 two self-assessment rubrics called I Am an Artist and I Work with Artists \u2014 invite deep thinking and honest self-evaluation. They\u2019re not designed to score or rank anyone. Instead, they spark conversations, encourage personal growth, and point people toward resources that can help them improve.<\/p>\n

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But translating such a nuanced process into an online format came with unique challenges. Most survey tools only display the answer you choose \u2014 a limitation that runs counter to the formative assessment approach. \u201cSeeing the full range of possible answers is part of the learning,\u201d Heather says. \u201cIf you only see your chosen answer, you miss the chance to imagine what \u2018better\u2019 could look like.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Searching for the Right Fit<\/h2>\n

By 2021, Heather had tested more than 15 survey platforms. None of them could offer the combination of features she needed:<\/p>\n

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  • Show all possible rubric answers alongside the participant\u2019s selection.<\/li>\n
  • Allow people to save and return later.<\/li>\n
  • Keep results anonymous to encourage honesty.<\/li>\n
  • Provide simple ways to email or print responses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \u201cI was pulling my hair out,\u201d Heather laughs. \u201cI needed something that would make the experience easy and engaging, not frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n

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    Then she found Sogolytics. \u201cOnce I saw what Sogo could do, I stopped looking anywhere else,\u201d she recalls. \u201cIt checked every box, and it just felt right for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

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    Building a Better Experience<\/h2>\n

    With support from her main Sogolytics point of contact, Bria Samuels, Heather and her team brought the rubrics to life online. Now, visitors to the Artists Thrive website can select a survey, answer a few quick setup questions to customize their experience, and start reflecting.<\/p>\n

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    Some spend 40 minutes thinking deeply about each question; others focus on one category at a time. Either way, participants can email themselves their results, print them, or come back later to continue. The final screen directs them back to the Artists Thrive site, where they can browse resources, read stories, and start making changes.<\/p>\n

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    For Bria, the collaboration has been inspiring. \u201cWorking with Heather and Artists Thrive is a pleasure,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019re mission-driven, creative, and always thinking about how to make their tools more valuable for artists and the people who support them. It\u2019s exciting to see the real-world impact of their work.\u201d<\/p>\n

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    A Tool in Action<\/h2>\n

    Since moving their rubrics online, Artists Thrive has seen increased engagement and unexpected new uses for the surveys. Residency programs use them at the start of an artist\u2019s stay to guide personal goals. Arts organizations fold them into strategic planning sessions. In Charleston, WV, a community-wide version helped secure funding for a part-time role supporting local artists.<\/p>\n

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    Heather still remembers a comment from one participant in Virginia: \u201cThey told me they only had to answer the first question before realizing they weren\u2019t taking care of themselves as an artist. That moment of awareness was all they needed to start making changes.\u201d<\/p>\n

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    Even without tracking individual users, Heather can see waves of participation. \u201cSometimes a spike will happen in one survey, and we know it\u2019s because a group somewhere decided this mattered,\u201d she says. \u201cWe might not know exactly who they are, but that\u2019s the beauty \u2014 these tools belong to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

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    Reflect, Return, Repeat<\/h2>\n

    For Heather, Sogolytics has turned a once-frustrating challenge into a integral part of Artists Thrive\u2019s mission. \u201cI love Sogo,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s usable, friendly, and it does exactly what we need it to do \u2014 so people can focus on their reflection and growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

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    And for the artists, administrators, and communities who use the rubrics, it\u2019s about more than checking boxes. It\u2019s about seeing the possibilities ahead, making a plan, and taking steps \u2014 small or big \u2014 toward a more sustainable, fulfilling artistic life.<\/p>\n

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    Many thanks to Heather and the Artists Thrive team for sharing their story and images from the 2025 Summit! Learn more about Artists Thrive<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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    Love celebrating success?<\/strong> Check out our case study library<\/a>! Ready to start your own success story?<\/strong> Get a free Sogolytics trial<\/a> or connect with our team<\/a> to learn how we can help you meet your goals.<\/p>\n