Virtual Community Report

The community I have been apart of for the last few weeks has been elffinarts.com http://www.elffinarts.com/
Although I have been apart of this site for longer than this time it has since changed and therefore I had to re-subscribe.

This site was created by a friend of mine Mark Greenmantle as a place for people in Brisbane to come together and discuss issues regarding art, photography, community interests and social activities. Although it was formally created in 1993 as his own place to display his work it soon grew into a well established community. So far the total amount of members are sixty one, although the most who have ever been online at one time have been ten. There is a limited amount of information that is disclosed through their profile and mainly consists of their age, name, location, number of posts, a small avatar, email if desired and a link to their personal website.
The size of the site I feel this is due to it being a largely Goth Brisbane based online community, and due to it being known through word of mouth. Most of the people who chat in the forums and who are seen in the gallery spaces all know each other fairly well, this is why many of the people continue to stay on the site as it works as an indirect chat program, keeping them up to date and connected to one another.

The community consists of forums (1954 articles have been posted so far), galleries from social functions, galleries for other members to display their work and discuss it, links for models, bands, medieval events etc...

The aim of the site was to encourage connections between artists, and helping to develop their skills, abilities and creative talents.

I feel that it is a fairly successful community especially due it being so local. Brisbane isn't a very large city and the Goth artistic community isn't that huge either, so even though it isn't exclusively for these people other artists haven't come across its benefits just yet due to it being so new (updated), but give it time and it will definitely flourish.