About Creative West: Mission and Profile
Creative impact is everywhere, so our technology offerings are, too.



Established in 1974, Creative West (formerly WESTAF) is a nonprofit U.S. Regional Arts Organization that builds equitable technology, funding, advocacy, and policy systems to generate creative capacity in the West and beyond. We provide technology solutions that equitably build bridges by connecting artists and arts organizations to opportunities and art-seekers with artists and artworks. Our technology platforms support livelihoods while also generating income that supports our regional work. Creative impact is everywhere, so our technology offerings are, too.

We serve a broad and diverse region that stretches from the Arctic Coast to the Desert Southwest and from the Great Plains to the Pacific Islands. We offer direct, practical support to artists, culture bearers, state arts agencies, and creative organizations, aiming to work distributively in support of community-defined goals. Our direct-service work includes funding, programming, leadership development, research, advocacy, technology, and convening to move arts and cultural policy forward. We support goals directly—seeking partnership, not power—knowing that the region contains multitudes.

Creativity is socially valuable and essential to us all. We support the people and organizations who make it happen, in the U.S. West and beyond.



Creative West is an experienced technology developer, with five projects that benefit the arts and creative industries:

	CallforEntry.org™ (CaFÉ) CaFÉ is an online application submission system that strives to make art opportunities available to all by offering arts organizations an affordable submission platform and artists an easy way to apply.
	GO Smart™ GO Smart is an affordable grants management software that offers pre- and post-application forms, panel reviewing, and data reporting for grantmakers.
	Public Art Archive™ (PAA) The Public Art Archive (PAA) is a free, searchable, and continually growing online database of completed public artworks throughout the U.S. and abroad, with a suite of resources and tools built for managing public art collections.
	Creative Vitality™ Suite (CVSuite) The Creative Vitality Suite is a research-based economic development tool that offers high quality creative economy data and reporting to arts advocates, organizations, and researchers
	ZAPPlication.org™ (ZAPP) ZAPP provides art fair and festival administrators with a suite of tools to digitally collect and jury applications, manage booth payments, and communicate with applicants all in one easy-to-use digital platform. Artists can apply to hundreds of shows nationwide through a central website.