Brand Strategy for the Cultural Field: A Conversation with James McNamara

Brand Strategy for the Cultural Field: A Conversation with James McNamara

The Chinese University of Hong Kong The Chinese University of Hong Kong invited James McNamara to speak with students working towards their master of arts degree in cultural management. This series includes six conversations on brand strategy for the cultural field with relevance for future and current cultural brand managers. Click on...
Lumberyard: Positioning a Catalyst for the Performing Arts

Lumberyard: Positioning a Catalyst for the Performing Arts

RESEARCH & ANALYSIS • POSITION STATEMENT • POSITION PILLARS • IMAGE ATTRIBUTES • ORGANIZATION TAGLINE CONSULTATION • USAGE GUIDELINES Lumberyard.org Opportunity Lumberyard Contemporary Performing Arts, or as they were known at the time, ADI | American Dance Institute, came to Arts Branding with a new mission, a new name, and an...
Aspen Music Festival and School: Brand Inspiration from Image and Legacy

Aspen Music Festival and School: Brand Inspiration from Image and Legacy

QUALITATIVE & QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH • BRAND STRATEGY • IMAGE ATTRIBUTES • POSITION STATEMENT • POSITION PILLARS • VISUAL IDENTITY • DIGITAL • WEBSITE • PRINT • BRAND GUIDELINES • LAUNCH & GOVERNANCE CONSULTATION • SEASON IDENTITY, DIGITAL & PRINT AspenMusicFestival.com Winner: The Drum Creative Awards Brand Identity Category Arts Branding...
MCC Theater: Discovery Before Decisions

MCC Theater: Discovery Before Decisions

QUALITATIVE & QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH • BRAND STRATEGY • IMAGE ATTRIBUTES • NAMING CONSULTATION MCCTheater.org Opportunity Permanent Home for Provocative Theater Arts Branding had the pleasure of working with MCC Theater as it made plans to build its first permanent theater complex. MCC Theater stands out in the crowded nonprofit, off-Broadway...
IA Interior Architects: Refining and Underscoring Purpose

IA Interior Architects: Refining and Underscoring Purpose

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS • LEADERSHIP PRESENTATION AND WORKSHOP • PURPOSE STATEMENT • CORE VALUES • KEY TRAITS • ACTIVATION IDEAS InteriorArchitects.com Opportunity IA Interior Architects is the one world’s foremost interior architecture and design firms and the founder of the field, with offices in major U.S. cities, Toronto, and...
Alden Theatre: A Logo in Need of a Qualifier

Alden Theatre: A Logo in Need of a Qualifier

INFORMATION STUDY & ANALYSIS • ORGANIZATION TAGLINE CONCEPTS & FINALISTS  • TAGLINE IDENTITY • USAGE GUIDELINES Alden Theatre Most of the time brand strategists and graphic designers strive for brevity and simplicity. But sometimes that can go a bit too far … Opportunity A New Logo but No Context The...
Increasing Attendance and Support: Branding, Does it Still Matter?

Increasing Attendance and Support: Branding, Does it Still Matter?

California Association of Museums Conference Moderator and Panelists James McNamara spoke as part of a panel, moderated by Joan G. Cumming, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at the Autry National Center. Carol D. Martin, Principal at Martin & Stowe Research, a cultural arts research firm, and Irina Zadov, Director of...
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National Maritime Museum: What's the Brand Strategy?

National Maritime Museum: What’s the Brand Strategy?

In Creative Review, I read recently of the announcement of Greenwich, London’s National Maritime Museum and the launch of their new visual identity. The article states, “The new identity, the launch of which coincides with the opening of a new wing at the National Maritime Museum, encompasses not just the Museum itself, but also the...
Dinosaurs: Branding Beyond Extinction

Dinosaurs: Branding Beyond Extinction

Oh, c’mon, admit it! A wide-eyed, excited, little shiver went up your back at the mere mention of them, didn’t it? Who doesn’t love dinosaurs? I admit it.  I’ve loved them since I was young. I still have my first dinosaur book. I watched the Flintstones with amusement. And in recent years I was a...
When Branding is unnecessary

When Branding is unnecessary

It’s beautiful, sunny, and warm in New York today, just as beautiful as it was Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001 almost ten years ago. In fact, that “message” of sorts is often mentioned when people begin to tell the story of 9/11 and that personal context is part of what connects us all to that...
Redux: Single Brand Strategy

Redux: Single Brand Strategy

The topic, Single Brand Strategy, from two weeks ago intrigued a number of readers, so much that I thought I’d clarify some of my thoughts and expand on other aspects. First, I am not against arts organizations creating sub-brands (names, sometimes logos, and message points for some of your arts organization’s programs, events, series, or...
Mission of Access: The Royal Ballet

Mission of Access: The Royal Ballet

The New York Times article, “Beer. Nachos. Arena. Ballet?” highlights the recent effort of The Royal Ballet to expand access to its programming. In mid-June, the Company held four performances of Romeo and Juliet at South London’s The O2 arena, the world’s largest single-roofed structure, which holds up to 20,000 people depending on the event....
Single Brand Strategy

Single Brand Strategy

Some of you may be scratching your head, “What’s a single brand strategy and why should I care?” Simply put it’s when an arts organization decides to put all of its branding, marketing, and communications resources behind one name and one brand. “Don’t all arts organizations already do this?” you might ask. Generally yes, but...