KWAHS Proudly Announces the Launch of its New Website
The Key West Art & Historical Society (KWAHS) is carving a deeper virtual niche for Florida Keys art and history by strengthening its internet presence. With the launch of its new website, KWAHS aspires to not only connect a broader audience to its mission and three landmark museums but also serve as a research tool for students of all ages and educators from across the globe.
Observing the increasing public reliance on mobile applications and social media, KWAHS, one of the oldest cultural non-profit organizations in the Florida Keys as well as the stewards of the Custom House Museum, the Key West Lighthouse and Keepers’ Quarters Museum, and the Fort East Martello Museum, recognized the necessity of modernizing its digital image to enhance its reach to local, national, and international audiences.
The new site represents several years of collaborative vision and community support, a matter that Executive Director Michael Gieda knows well; he has overseen the process since its inception.
“The Society is proud to announce the launch of its new website,” says Gieda. “Through the ongoing development of online exhibitions, interactive features, and eventual access to our collection, people from around the world will gain insight into the art and history of the Florida Keys.”
Partnering with Gravitate Design Studios, a team of internet strategists, engineers, and designers based in Vancouver, WA, KWAHS reached its initial re-branding objective, from layout to logo. “Gravitate was central to the overall design and direction of the website,” Gieda relates. Utilizing Gravitate’s experience in customized web development, search engine optimization, and competitive business marketing, KWAHS is bringing the Florida Keys’ cultural past into the present tense.
However, KWAHS is not done yet. Virtual visitors can look forward to seeing further expansion in its “Learn” and “Shop” sections by Winter of 2013, and humanities scholars from grade-school students to post-graduate candidates will have online access to the Society’s collection by Spring 2014.