Earlier this year, the Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) challenged people to make their own "cultural bucket lists" of arts activities to explore in Columbia. Now it is even easier for individuals to put this idea into practice. By partnering with Unbucket, a new social media company based in Los Angeles, Calif., OCA is one of eight launch partners who are striving to bring people together by inspiring engagement in the community.

Unbucket is a Web and mobile app that allows people to create shared lists of things to experience, for instance, a list of local galleries to explore. Unbucket has begun partnering with local organizations, media outlets, and non-profits to create preassembled lists to inspire people to try new experiences.

"We believe every city in America should create Unbucket lists to inspire tourists and residents alike to explore their surroundings," says Unbucket co-founder Elliot Darvick. "When presented with a chance to work with the Office of Cultural Affairs to help Columbia, Missouri, do just that, we jumped at the opportunity."

To get started using Unbucket, visit its website at www.unbucket.com, and sign up by connecting through a Facebook account. The Office of Cultural Affairs has its own page that can be accessed at www.unbucket.com/comoarts. OCA currently has two Unbucket lists, titled "Engage the Stage: Attend Great Performances in 2013" and "Deepen your arts experience," with hopes to add more lists throughout the year as well as get other cultural organizations involved in creating their own Unbucket pages.

For more information, contact OCA at 573-874-6387 or oca@GoColumbiaMo.com.