deviantART's Community Relations Team provides a unique collective effort that seeks to create and sustain collaborative relationships among deviants and to develop innovative opportunities within the global art industry. These relationships are meant to provide and encourage opportunities to foster creative genius. The CR Team acts as a window of information for the community on how to utilize deviantART in a way that will empower and enable themselves as respected and successful artists.

Our ultimate vision is a community of artists that come together unified and strengthened by sharing the belief that they hold the artistic power to create and shape their own success. In order to realize our vision, our mission must be to exceed the expectations of our community, whom we view as partners, and we will accomplish this by committing to our shared core values. Our core values are listed in FAQ #84: What are the Core Values of the Community Relations and Operations Departments?


Director of Community Relations :

Table of Contents

1. Goodbye's and Change
2. deviantART World Tour 2009
3. Volunteer Openings in Community Relations
4. Dealing with Negativity
5. Share your Opinions!
6. Gallery Streamlining, Changes and Additions
7. Charity & Fundraising
8. Community Projects
9. Official Contests
10. Important & Interesting Links
11. Featured Favorites
12. News from the Galleries

1. Goodbye's and Change

Every person that comes into Community Relations, enhances and touches the community in a positive way during their time - and they should be celebrated for their efforts and love for the community.

With that, we give our love, adoration and eternal gratitude to `cosmosue, `Katerina423, `Damaged927, `2dazed, and `WilderWein77

And a change for ^archanN who moves from being a Gallery Moderator for Wallpaper into being a Gallery Moderator for Digital Art alongside ^JunkbyJen

2. deviantART World Tour 2009

For those living under giant rocks and unfamiliar with the deviantART World Tour - $Heidi and $spyed are are holding deviantMEETs around the globe to demonstrate upcoming deviantART feature releases -- like the Groups system, Portfolio, and search engine upgrades. However, most importantly, they'll be listening to what you have to say about deviantART in general. So far, the tour has been to: Sydney (Australia), Singapore (Singapore), Warsaw (Poland), Istanbul (Turkey), Berlin (Germany) and is currently in Paris (France) - next stop? London (England). To follow the World Tour set your sights on #hq and follow the pictures and stories along this epic journey! If you're lucky enough to get the tour LIVE in your hometown - GET OUT THERE! You won't regret it

3. Volunteer Openings in Community Relations

If you're interested in learning more about being a volunteer on deviantART please read FAQ #85: Can I be a volunteer on deviantART?

To see current openings on the Community Relations volunteer team please go to this journal

If there isn't a spot open please consider helping out from within the community. Read How to be a guiding light and shining example by the awesome ^RockstarVanity

Please note that there are a lot of inquiries that come in and I may not be able to respond to each and everyone. Your understanding is appreciated

4. Dealing with Negativity

As members of a huge community and artists, we all deal with negativity sometimes. Whether it's personal attacks, or attacks against our art, learning how to constructively handle this sort of attention is important to, not only our development as artists, but as people in general.

Let's start with the facts, there are people out there who could care less about who you are, what your artwork means to you etc, and there's simply no reasoning with people like this. We encounter them in real life and the virtual world and it's a waste of time to give them attention or let their commentary affect you too much. I'm speaking about the people that comment on your artwork with derogatory comments.. 'nice ass', 'this is crap', 'model is fat' - some would argue that we should censor these remarks, develop policy and police them or ban them outright and while I appreciate the notion, I don't agree with this degree of censorship. Note that these are my personal opinions as I do not speak for $chix0r or her team

Firstly, it would require an excessive amount of manpower to deal with the complaints, clearly there are a few jerks out there with nothing better to do with themselves than be jerks. Secondly, it validates them by giving them so much time and attention and thirdly, and most importantly to me, I don't want deviantART to be a policed area in this respect.

I'm an artist and on very rare occasions, a model, and I've taken my fair share of abuse. Whether it's directed at my artwork or how I look in a photo and it sucks. It hurts, no one denies that. Art is personal expression and to have that attacked can be painful but we (as artists) have the power here, to choose.

We choose to give the power to those that attack us, we choose to let it affect us or we choose to learn from it and walk away. We as a community need to take back decency and communal beliefs. We, as individuals, need to remain aware of how we interact with our fellow community members and choose to be the better people, choose to ignore the ones that have nothing better to do and choose to defend the community that we love so dearly. It starts with each and every one of us. Yes, harassment is a policy issue and yes, those that cross that policy are dealt with by the CEA team but to argue that every asshole you encounter should be removed isn't logical nor possible. We have to empower ourselves as a community through support, positive interaction and community love.

The outside art world is no different. It's harsh and there are just as many, over-qualified, overly-opinionated jackasses there as well, so I don't want to fight to shelter you here because it ill-prepares you for a world many of you want to be part of. That being said I have some tips for dealing with negativity that I pass on to our staff and volunteers and I'd like to share it with you:

1. Don't React

Obviously easier said than done but that's exactly what angry people won't expect. Instead of reacting and saying the first thing that comes to mind, take a moment, count to ten, step back and create some space between you and the other person.

2. Listen for the Message Behind the Words

A lot of anger is mis-directed and is often a function of fear or frustration about something that has little or nothing to do with you specifically. Sometimes there are clues in the words as to what is really bothering the person, try actually listening to see if you can find them.


3. Acknowledge that you heard what was said

When you acknowledge what the other person has said you aren't necessarily agreeing with them but rather letting them know that they've been heard. For example: "I can see that you're not happy about this"


4. Ask a clarifying question

There are two reasons to ask a question here. First, it tends to defuse the anger by causing the person to elaborate on what they said initially (forces them to think) and secondly, it shows the person that you're interested in what is going on. Example: "Can you tell me more about what concerns you?"


5. Repeat Back

This is a step to further defuse the situation prior to trying to find a solution. Repeating back lets the person know that you've heard what they said. Example: "If I understand correctly, you are concerned that...."


6. Expand on what has been said

Get in the other persons shoes and take it a step further. This can let the person know that you really do understand and have thought about what they've said. Example "In light of your concerns, that would mean.... is that correct?" Ending with a question encourages the other person to confirm that they feel listened to.


7. Legitimize

This doesn't mean you agree with the person, it simple means that, based on where they are coming from, you can understand what was said. Example "I can certainly understand why you feel the way you do"


8. Offer to Explore Solutions

don't offer a solution because it'll likely be shot down but rather ask permission to be a part of the problem solving process. Example "Would it be helpful to you to consider what can be done to resolve this?" Avoid using the word we, because you may inadvertently assume responsibility of finding the solution and it may not be yours to assume. Keeping the question generic allows you to get feedback as to how willing the person is to assume responsibility.

9. Establish your Boundaries

You have asked a reasonable question and you're entitled to a reasonable and courteous reply. Sometimes you may ask here "What can I do to help"


10. Use as much force as necessary to enforce the boundaries you've set

Sometimes, you'll encounter someone who just won't let go. They'll return to the same thing and begin all over again or they'll toss in a dig or accusation that's unfounded. The fact is you've listened, acknowledged, explored, legitimized and offered and that isn't good enough. If you come across these situations - remove yourself from the situation - this is a no-win and it's not worth your time.

Hopefully some of this is helpful

5. Share Your Opinions!

I'm actively using my personal forum to try and connect more with the community and I've started a series of threads:

Tools of the Trade - What do you use?
Profile Page Modules - What should we build?
General Feedback
Gallery Changes or Additions
Community Relations Project Requests
Subscriber Feature Requests
Requests for improving Literature on deviantART <-- This one is on FIRE!
Questions for Community Relations - ask me anything!

these forums are all accessible from my profile page at $Moonbeam13 as well and I will be adding more. I encourage you to speak up and get involved! We're in this together

6. Gallery Streamlining, changes and addidtions

Gallery changes and additions are happening. I started with Body Art and I'm moving on but it's something I have to fit into my normal day to day and some of the changes are very complex, thus the process takes quite a bit of time. If there are changes or additions you would like to see, please suggest them to the appropriate Gallery Moderator and they can pass along the info. If there is no Gallery Moderator for the gallery you're suggesting for, you may send me your request via note. As changes are being made I will keep people up to date! Thank you!

7. Charity & Fundraising

Support $Moonbeam13 in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer
Support *gimp in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer
Support Collumb in the Kilimanjaro Climb for Charity
Support =Ek0s in the Relay for Life>
Support *grimfairyreaper in her ride for cancer
Support ~KingNorth in his effort to raise money for S.P.O.T Pet Rescue
Support =sheaint in the UK Race For Life

Have a charity or fundraising effort you want to promote?? Note me with the details!

8. Community Projects

Want to show your devious pride and get involved in ongoing Community Projects? Check on one of these:

Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

World Cancer Day

The deviantMIX Project

Random Acts of Kindness

Project Positivity

That Was Then, This is Now

Chaos Gerbil

Helen Levitt Tribute

Dave Arneson Tribute

Pimp the Positive Stamps!

May Events/Awareness/Holidays

June Events/Awareness/Holidays




These projects are open all year round, despite whether they represent a particular 'day' or 'month'

9. Official Contests

Nostalgia - Deadline June 12, 2009

Anthro Collaboration Contest - Deadline June 14, 2009

Windows deviant8 - Deadline June 13, 2009

Kick Your Own A$$ - Deadline June 28, 2009

Fractals and the Outside World - Deadline July 6, 2009

LIFE - a photojournalism contest - Deadline August 31, 2009

Story of a Nude Contest - Deadline September 1, 2009

10. Important and Interesting Links

Anthro Ninja's vs Pirates Treasure Feature Challenge

Help End Hunger in America!

Community Projects: May Awareness

TradSavvy IV: Rubius on Biro

Artistic Nudes - Fleshy Features #6

This Place We Call Home vol. 3

designers'Block : Edition 28

3D Love #4

Daily Deviations: How to Suggest in '09

15minutesOfFrame("LazyMuFFin");

PhotoJournalism Interview(s) #7 [Digitalgrace]

On the Couch with Nyssa Brown!

Game Art Interview - Josh Harvey

Interview with *cdlitestudio

Anthro Artist Spotlight: =Pixel-Spotlight

Relay for Life

Digital artists and stock: do you play nice?

Global Tutorials Project [updates + awesomeness]

Critique Requested for Artistic Nude Deviations

"Deviance" Issue-2 is here!

Battledress and Doomsday-Dawn in Heavy Metal!

Giving DD's is Tough - Part I

Awareness for Hungtington's Disease

Shoot organization plus being an awesome person

Being a model photographers want to work with

Give us a YAY! Winners

Western Art Association (WAA) - National Art Show & Auction

11. Featured Favorites

12. News from the Galleries

Ring Master

Anime/Manga
Anthro

Artisan Crafts

Comics & Cartoons - ^Cedarseed
Comics & Cartoons - ^Thiefoworld

Customization
Emoticons

Designs & Interfaces

Digital Art
3-Dimensional
Text Art
Vector
Vexel

Fan Art

Photography
Abstract & Surreal & Fetish
Animals, Plants & Nature
Artistic Nudes
Horror/Macabre
Macro

Traditional Art - ^limnides
Traditional Art - ^stigmatattoo
Body Art