About the author
Marketing Made Practical was created by Sue Edworthy — an arts marketing consultant, educator, and facilitator with more than twenty years of experience in the non-profit performing arts sector. Sue has worked in
Marketing isn’t selling out. It’s explaining what you made
Marketing doesn’t change the work. It gives people a way in. Somewhere along the way, marketing got framed as the enemy of art. Marketing is “selling out.” Marketing is “watering it down.” Marketing
Your board is not your marketing team and that’s okay
Clear roles reduce panic, interference and bad decisions Let’s clear something up right away: Most board members want the organization to succeed. They just don’t always understand how marketing actually works, especially in
Arts marketing isn’t hard because you’re bad at it
It’s harder because the product is emotional, subjective and time-bound There’s a special kind of exhaustion that comes from hearing, “Marketing is marketing. Just apply best practices.” This sentence is usually spoken by
You’re not selling a product. You’re selling a leap of faith
Good marketing lowers risk before the experience exists Why Arts Experiences Are Difficult To Market A thoughtful look at how arts organizations can reduce uncertainty and communicate value before the experience. Many arts
You don’t need to be louder. You need to be clearer
Clarity beats volume every time Marketing your creativity doesn’t mean becoming louder, slicker, or more “brand-y.”It means being clear, human, and intentional. Here are five ways to do exactly that. 1. Start With
This isn’t a motivation problem. It’s a systems problem
Tiny budgets and big expectations create predictable burnout Marketing in arts and culture is not hard because cultural workers aren’t smart or creative.It’s hard because the system is… let’s say aspirational. Here are
Artists don’t need more advice. They need different advice
Most marketing systems weren’t built for how art actually works I’ve watched artists try to force themselves into marketing systems that were never built for them. Artists don’t need more marketing advice.They need