Arts Branding LLC | Communications Solutions for the Cultural Field

PROJECT: Brand Strategy & Visual Identity

Aspen Music Festival and School: 75th Anniversary

by James M. McNamara on May 8, 2024 • No Comments

TACTICAL STRATEGY • MESSAGE PLATFORM • SEASON LOGO AND VISUAL IDENTITY • SOCIAL MEDIA HOMEPAGES • MASS EMAIL TEMPLATES • EMAIL SIGNATURE • SEASON PREVIEW BROCHURE • SEASON INTRODUCTION INVITATIONS • WEEKLY POSTER TEMPLATE • WALKWAY BANNERS AspenMusicFestival.com

Speaking Engagement

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

by James M. McNamara on Nov 10, 2020 • No Comments

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...

PROJECT: Positioning

Lumberyard: Positioning a Catalyst for the Performing Arts

by James M. McNamara on Nov 9, 2016 • No Comments

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...

PROJECT: Brand Strategy & Visual Identity

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

by James M. McNamara on Jul 1, 2016 • No Comments

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...

PROJECT: Brand Research

MCC Theater: Discovery Before Decisions

by James M. McNamara on Mar 5, 2015 • No Comments

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...

PROJECT: Mission Vision Values

IA Interior Architects: Refining and Underscoring Purpose

by James M. McNamara on Dec 8, 2014 • No Comments

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...

PROJECT: Organization Tagline

Alden Theatre: A Logo in Need of a Qualifier

by James M. McNamara on Jul 24, 2012 • No Comments

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...

Speaking Engagement

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

by James M. McNamara on Jan 16, 2012 • No Comments

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...

Latest entries

Performing Arts Branding

Carnegie Hall: presenter or educator?

by James M. McNamara on Mar 14, 2011 • No Comments

I read about Carnegie Hall’s expansion of its in-person and online educational programs and the physical spaces needed to provide them and immediately thought: Is Carnegie Hall still a performing arts center with an education arm (Weill Music Institute) or is it becoming even more of an educational institution with performance venues? This may be...

Naming

Name changes: the real process

by James M. McNamara on Mar 6, 2011 • 3 Comments

Recently I attended an introductory meeting for the combination of two arts organizations (more on that trend later) and as part of it they introduced the combined organization’s new name. I was reminded what a difficult branding task naming is. It’s rare that entirely new names are launched in the cultural arts. More often we...

Museum Branding

The Guggenheim – Leveraging their brand

by James M. McNamara on Feb 28, 2011 • No Comments

Back in January, “Helsinki announced that it has commissioned the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation to undertake a feasibility study to examine the possibility of building a new Guggenheim Museum in Finland.” While around for some time, museum branding is still in its infancy, but the Guggenheim is at the forefront. Do you need five museums...

Audiences

What’s the most important determinant in deciding to attend a cultural arts event?

by James M. McNamara on Feb 20, 2011 • No Comments

Mazes, however convoluted, always have a definitive conclusion. With polls, I’m not so sure. This is a little poll I started on LinkedIn. Just curious, we’ll see if this audience’s responses reflect results from the client studies I’ve helped set up. Vote! http://polls.linkedin.com/vote/123166/guxmg

Audiences

It takes a long time to become young *

by James M. McNamara on Feb 17, 2011 • No Comments

A while back I was leaving the office, waiting for the elevator. A woman in a hurry was also waiting. As we entered the elevator, she said she was running late and asked if she’d have time to make it to Broadway for a 7pm curtain. It was 6:30 and I assured her she would....

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