The informative and personable new weekly web series Arts937 recently launched to promote the wealth of arts options in the Miami Valley.

Since its YouTube debut last month, Arts937, produced by WorldStage Media, has given viewers a breezy look at various presentations from the Dayton Art Institute, Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, Dayton Visual Arts Center, Human Race Theatre Company, Victoria Theatre Association and Zoot Theatre Company. WorldStage Media founder Shaunn Baker, an arts devotee and local videographer who serves as vice president of the FilmDayton board of trustees, feels his endeavor broadens the appeal of the arts while fueling the trend of online marketing.

“Dayton has so much going on,” Baker said. “We are so fortunate to have such a rich arts community. The arts are well attended, but it could be better attended. I think we definitely need to increase the attendance of the middle demographic, the 24 to 45 demographic, that doesn’t attend a lot of arts events. Many arts organizations have supported us because they see Arts937 as a future marketing tool. They want to reach a broader audience and let people know the arts can be loose and fun instead of stodgy.”

“I applaud WorldStage Media’s commitment to creating this web-based program to help get the word out about the incredible arts scene we have here in the Dayton region,” said Sue Stevens, vice president of marketing and communications for the Victoria. “I think the team they’ve put together has great potential and we’re excited to see what comes of it. We are sharing their videos with our social media following and encouraging folks to check them out. We’re always looking for new channels to reach new folks with all the performances we present. Arts937 is pretty flexible and eager, which is more than can sometimes be said for other media outlets that have so many demands upon them.”

Baker’s small yet dedicated team consists of host/local actor Chris Shea and production coordinator Jaclyn Laravie. In particular, Shea, the founding artistic director of Free Shakespeare! currently appearing in the Human Race’s fabulous production of “Oliver!,” became friends with Baker 10 years ago when they worked together on a training video for the Schuster Center. He welcomed the opportunity to join this venture and considers himself more of an “unhost” in terms of style.

“None of us wanted this to be another boring arts special,” said Shea. “I tend to be very laidback, easygoing. We figured that would be the best way to approach this project. You have to be able to grab people’s attention and make them want to hear what you have to say. We try to do it with humor and hopefully it works. We all have twisted senses of humor at Arts937.”

Shea, who has hosted programs for WYSO-FM (91.3), doesn’t use a script and says multiple episodes are typically shot in one day. His interview with Chuck Duritsch, communications and media manager for the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, remains one of his favorites. Duritsch actually performed the moonwalk while discussing the DPO’s “Music of Michael Jackson” concert.

“It’s fun to try and get people out of their comfort zone,” he said. “I also really enjoyed interviewing Dayton Ballet costume designer Lowell Mathwich for the ‘Nutcracker’ episode which has yet to drop. And seeing the (DAI) ‘Stephen Knapp: Lightpaintings’ exhibit was truly stunning. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Looking ahead to the future of Arts937, Baker acknowledges its emerging, work-in-progress status. Still, he hopes the community gravitates toward the content and recognizes the continuous merits of the Internet as a vital news source.

“The Internet is a growing business,” he said. “YouTube is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in new channels and contact creators. Until very recently, the bandwidth wasn’t available to put out really high quality video. Now you can watch feature films over the Internet. Everybody knows the Internet is still the story of the future. We’re still trying to see if there is a market here in Dayton for Arts937 in terms of sponsorship, but if nothing else, at least it’s a good thing to do. This series makes me happy.”

“You hear business community leaders talking about the arts scene as a draw to potential investors, and in trying to retain the business talent downtown and strengthen the core of the region, we need to have a thriving, flourishing arts scene,” added Shea. “We’re all in this together, artists and businesses, and historically, when one does well so does the other. But an arts scene is only as strong as it audience. If people aren’t supporting, it’s as if it doesn’t exist. On the flip side, the arts organizations have an obligation to continue to produce top notch work that challenges and enriches the lives of its patrons.”

For more information, go online to twitter.com/arts937 or facebook.com/arts937