Dear DRMRS and Doers,

Can you believe we’ve reached our final Bold Brand truth? What a journey it’s been exploring these fundamental principles together. We’ve saved one of our most powerful insights for last – one that cuts to the heart of why people truly connect with arts and culture organizations.

Here’s #10 on our list of Bold Brand truths:

People join causes that reflect who they are, who they want to be, or how they want to be perceived.

Think about the last time you shared a social media post about attending a premiere performance, or proudly displayed your museum member tote bag, or mentioned serving on a theater’s board of directors. What motivated that share? That display? That mention?

Let’s be honest – we’re all painting a picture of ourselves through our choices and associations. And that’s okay – it’s fundamentally human.

Here’s the fascinating truth: When people choose to support an arts organization, they’re not just buying a ticket or making a donation. They’re making a statement about their values, their cultural awareness, or their community involvement. They’re saying, “This is who I am” or “This is who I aspire to be.”

Remember our very first Brand Truth about connecting community to your cause, not your programs? This is exactly why that principle is so powerful. Nobody buys into your mission because they desperately want to attend your quarterly board meetings (well, maybe a few!). They join because supporting avant-garde theater makes them feel culturally adventurous. They donate because being a patron of the arts aligns with their self-image as a community leader. They volunteer because they want to be seen as someone who gives back. They show up because you provide a place for them to feel elevated and artistic, and they like the perks!

This insight completely transforms how we should approach our messaging:

• Stop the “we” parade: Instead of “We present groundbreaking contemporary dance,” try “Discover your adventurous spirit through boundary-pushing performance.”
• Paint the picture: Rather than listing program features, show how participation enriches lives and shapes identities: “Join the cultural pioneers shaping our city’s artistic future.”
• Create belonging: Instead of “Support our youth orchestra,” try “Be the spark that ignites the next generation of musical brilliance.”

Start by asking these amazing questions. Expand beyond your usual suspects for extra-insightful answers:

1. What does association with your organization say about someone?
2. What aspirational identity does your cultural cause offer?
3. How do your current supporters want to be perceived?
4. What community status or recognition comes with different levels of engagement?

Combine Identity + Impact

The most powerful messaging (and fundraising!) connects personal identity with meaningful impact. For example:

• “Visionaries like you understand that art changes lives…”
• “Join fellow cultural champions in making our city a beacon for creative expression…”
• “Be remembered as someone who helped transform our historic theater into a contemporary masterpiece…”

Remember: This isn’t about manipulation – it’s about recognition. People genuinely want to support meaningful causes. Our job is to help them see how their personal values and aspirations align with our missions.

Ready to reimagine your messaging through the motivation lens? Here’s your quick action plan:

• Audit your current communications: How often do you lead with “we” statements versus “you” invitations?
• Map your identity offerings: What different types of involvement or support speak to different personal aspirations?
• Craft messages that mirror: Help people see themselves – or their ideal selves – in your cause.

Struggling to shift from “we” to “them”? Reach out to DRMTM at hello@thedrmtm.com for a free chat to transform your brand approach.

Here’s to Reflecting Your Best Self,

Surale, Laura + Cheryl

P.S. We’ll conclude this series in December with a summary and goal plan for 2025 to adopt the DRMTM Bold Brand truths! For now, we’d love to hear which truth resonated most with you and your organization. Drop us a line and let us know!

Dear DRMRS and Doers,

Welcome back to our journey through DRMTM’s Bold Brand Truths. Today, we’re tackling #9, and it’s a big, sometimes scary one:

Accountability Counts.

In our exciting field, we love to talk about creating magic, inspiring awe, and transforming lives with art and culture. But there’s a critical, less glamourous piece to our work that we often overlook: accountability. Accountability is the backbone of a bold arts brand. It’s what forms trust, thus allowing us to create magic, awe, and transformation.

Why? Because trust is the currency of connection.

When people align with your brand, they’re not just appreciating your art — they’re buying into your values, your culture, your promise. They’re joining your family. And just like in any family, trust is paramount.

But here’s the thing: trust is fragile. It’s built slowly, over time, through consistent actions and transparent communication. Yet it can be shattered in an instant by a misstep, a broken promise, or a values misalignment.

So, how do we build and maintain this trust? Through accountability.

It must show up across all operations and in addressing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) in our mission and profession. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Embrace the messy middle: We’re living in complex times. It’s okay – commendable, even – to admit that you’re still figuring things out. Your audience appreciates honesty over perfection.
• Walk the talk: Accountability isn’t just about training manuals and mission statements. It’s about the hard, ongoing work of truly reflecting and serving your community. Are you actively engaging in difficult conversations? Are you making real, structural changes?
• Own your mistakes: When you miss the mark (and you will, because we’re all human), own it. Apologize sincerely, explain what went wrong, and share how you’ll do better.
• Invite feedback: Create channels for your community to share their thoughts and concerns. And more importantly, listen and respond.
• Be transparent about your journey: Share your accountability goals publicly. Report on your progress — both the victories and the challenges.
• Question yourself regularly: Are we being authentic in our approach? Are we avoiding controversy at the cost of progress? Are we truly serving our entire community?

Accountability isn’t about being perfect.

It’s about being honest, open, and committed to growth. It’s about recognizing that as arts and culture organizations, we have a unique responsibility and opportunity to lead by example in creating more just and inclusive communities.

Yes, there’s fatigue around serving communities and DEIA discussions. Yes, the current political climate can make these conversations challenging. But here’s the truth: our missions as arts and culture organizations demand that we persist. We must continue to evolve, to reflect, and to strive for better — not despite the challenges, but because of them.

It might feel vulnerable. It might be messy. But it’s also where the real magic happens — where trust deepens, where communities truly connect, and where your brand becomes not just bold, but beloved.

Ready to boost your accountability quotient? Here are some questions to get you started:

1. When was the last time we publicly shared our progress (or challenges) on accountability initiatives?
2. How do we currently gather and respond to community feedback?
3. Can we identify a recent misstep? How did we handle it, and what did we learn?
4. Are our efforts integrated into all aspects of our organization, or siloed?
5. How are we measuring the impact of our accountability efforts?

Remember, accountability isn’t a destination – it’s an ongoing journey. By committing to this journey, you’re not just strengthening your brand. You’re creating a more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant arts and culture landscape for all.

Struggling with how to approach accountability in your organization?

We happen to have some expertise in this area. Email us at hello@thedrmtm.com and we’ll schedule a call to talk about our consulting services.

Here’s to brands that don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk,

​Surale, Laura + Cheryl

P.S. We’d love to hear about your accountability journey! Join us on our socials to share a moment when owning up to a challenge led to unexpected growth – let’s learn from each other!

Dear Dreamers and Doers,

Today we’re talking about the Power of One: How Your Arts Brand Can Touch Hearts and Open Wallets. Welcome back to our exploration of DRMTM’s Bold Brand Truths. Let’s dive right in on #8:

People respond to the needs of one, not many.

In the world of arts and culture, we’re often tempted to showcase the grandeur of our impact — the thousands of lives touched, the countless performances given, the endless gallery hours offered. But here’s a truth that might surprise you: when it comes to inspiring support and connection, less is absolutely more.

Why? Because human beings are wired for individual connection. We can empathize deeply with one person’s story, but we often feel overwhelmed and disconnected when faced with large numbers or abstract concepts. This isn’t just feel-good advice — it’s backed by psychology and proven fundraising strategies. So how can arts and culture organizations harness this powerful truth?

1. Put a face to your mission: Instead of talking about “underserved communities,” tell the story of Maria, the teenager who discovered her voice in your youth theater program.

2. Show, don’t tell: Rather than listing statistics about music education, share a video of Alex mastering their first violin concerto after a year in your after-school program.

3. Make the impact tangible: Don’t just say “your donation helps.” Show how a $50 gift provides art supplies for one child’s summer camp experience.

4. Create emotional connections: Share the journey of an emerging artist from their first gallery showing to their breakthrough exhibition.

5. Highlight volunteer experiences: Let supporters hear directly from individuals who’ve found purpose and community through volunteering with your organization.

For performing arts organizations, this approach might feel challenging. After all, you’re used to showcasing ensembles, not individuals. But consider these additional strategies with those above which are supporter- and donor-centric:

• Profile a young dancer’s journey on scholarship from first audition to opening night.
• Share how a community outreach performance touched one audience member’s life.
• Illustrate how one patron’s support made a specific production possible.
• Highlight an individual musician’s or composer’s personal connection to a piece in your upcoming concert that donor support made happen.

Remember, focusing on “the one” doesn’t mean ignoring your broader impact. It’s about creating an entry point — a relatable, emotional connection that opens hearts and minds to your larger mission.

By centering individual stories, you’re not diminishing your reach. You’re elevating it. You’re showing potential supporters that their contribution, no matter the size, can create a ripple effect of positive change.

So, arts and culture champions, it’s time to zoom in. Find those powerful individual narratives within your organization. They’re there — in your programs, your audiences, your artists, and your volunteers. These stories are the key to unlocking deeper community engagement and support.

Ready to start spotlighting the power of one? Here are some questions to kickstart your approach:

• Who’s a standout success story from your education or community programs?
• Can you identify an artist whose journey embodies your organization’s mission?
• Is there a long-time patron whose life has been enriched by your work?
• What’s a memorable moment of individual transformation you’ve witnessed?
• How can you break down your impact into personal, relatable experiences?

Remember, every grand performance, every expansive exhibition, every community-wide initiative is, at its heart, a collection of individual stories. By telling these stories one at a time, you invite your community to see themselves in your mission — and to play a starring role in your organization’s success.

Struggling to find your spotlight story? We’re here to help. Reach out to us at hello@thedrmtm.com for a free happy half-hour consultation on identifying and crafting those powerful individual narratives.

Here’s to the power of one,

Surale + Laura + Cheryl

P.S. We’d love to hear your “power of one” story! Share a moment when an individual’s experience brought your mission to life — let’s inspire each other!

Dear Dreamers and Doers,

It’s great to be back with more insight and impact for building your bold brand! In our earlier post on storytelling this month, we talked about why stories are so vital and compelling to cultural missions. If you missed it, you may catch up right here.

Now, let’s learn how to tell impactful tales that compel people to sit up and listen.

How do you harness the power of storytelling in your brand communications? Here are some key points to consider:

• Know your core story: What’s the fundamental narrative of your organization? Why do you exist, and what change are you creating in the world?
• Highlight personal impact: Share stories of individuals whose lives have been touched by your work. Let their voices shine through.
• Use multiple formats: Stories can be told through words, images, video, and performance. Mix it up to engage different audiences.
• Be specific and authentic: Avoid generalities. Focus on real details and genuine emotions.
• Create a story bank: Regularly collect stories from staff, artists, audience members, and community partners.
• Invite participation: Encourage your community to share their own stories related to your mission.

Ready to start your storytelling journey? Here are some questions to get you thinking:

1. What was the moment that inspired your organization’s founding?
2. Can you recall a time when your work made an unexpected impact on someone?
3. What’s a challenge your organization has faced, and how did you overcome it?
4. How has a piece of art or performance changed a visitor’s perspective?
5. What stories from your community are not being told, and how can you help tell them?

Remember, every exhibition, every performance, every program is an opportunity to tell a story. By embracing storytelling, you’re not just building a brand — you’re weaving the narrative of your community’s cultural life.

Struggling to find your story? We’re here to help. Reach out to us at hello@thedrmtm.com for a free Happy Half Hour consultation on crafting narratives that resonate.

Here’s to stories that capture our purpose,

Surale + Laura + Cheryl

P.S. We’d love to hear your stories! Share a powerful moment from your organization’s journey and we’ll share it on social media — let’s inspire each other!

Dear Dreamers and Doers,

Welcome back to our journey through DRMTM’s ten Bold Brand truths. We’ve reached #7, and it’s one that resonates deeply throughout human history: Tell a great story.

“Let me tell you a story.” When someone begins a sentence this way, there’s a reason we are instantly captivated. Our brains are wired for narrative. Stories aren’t just entertainment; they’re how we make sense of the world, connect with others, and find meaning in our experiences. For arts and culture organizations, storytelling isn’t just a suggestion — it’s essential to your brand’s success.

Why is storytelling so vital? Here’s the heart of it:

1. Emotional Connection: Stories bypass our logical defenses and speak directly to our hearts. When you share a compelling narrative about your mission’s impact, you’re not just informing — you’re inviting your audience to feel something profound together.
2. Relevance and Relatability: Through stories, you show how your work touches real lives. This builds relevance and helps individuals see themselves reflected in your mission.
3. Authenticity: Stories provide a genuine way to communicate your values and purpose. They reveal the human side of your organization, fostering trust and connection.
4. Diversity and Inclusion: Storytelling allows you to magnify diverse voices and experiences, acknowledging the rich tapestry of your community.
5. Memory and Impact: People may forget facts and figures, but they remember stories. A well-told story can leave a lasting impression about your organization’s value and meaning.

Arts and culture organizations are uniquely positioned as storytellers. You’re not just sharing narratives — you’re preserving and creating them. Your exhibitions, performances, and programs are living stories that reflect and shape your community’s identity.

Stay tuned for our next post on 8/21, where we’ll reveal the keys to harnessing the power of storytelling in your brand communications. We’ll also throw in some questions to get you going on your storytelling journey.

Struggling to find your story? We’re here to help. Reach out to us at hello@thedrmtm.com for a free Happy Half Hour consultation to help you craft a narrative that resonates.

Here’s to telling tales that touch hearts,

P.S. We’d love to hear your stories! Share a powerful moment from your organization’s journey and we’ll share it on social media — let’s inspire each other!

Dear Dreamers and Doers,

We know you’ve been anxiously hanging on the cliff where we last left you in our exploration of DRMTM’s Bold Brand Truth #6: Be Human. In our first post on the subject, we discussed why being human matters in arts and culture branding. If you missed it, you can catch up here. Now, let’s bring it home.

How do you know if you’re hitting the mark on being human? As we tend to do at DRMTM, we suggest asking your audience. Here are some questions to help you gauge your organization’s human touch:

1. “When you interact with our organization, do you feel like you’re talking to a friend or an institution?”

2. “Have our programs or exhibitions ever made you feel deeply understood or less alone?”

3. “Can you recall a time when our communications made you laugh, cry, or feel inspired?”

4. “Do you see your community’s stories and experiences reflected in our work?”

5. “How comfortable would you feel sharing a personal story or feedback with us?”

These questions aren’t just about gathering data – they’re about opening a dialogue. They show your audience that you care about their experiences and perspectives, which is a deeply human gesture in itself.

Remember, being human in your brand communications isn’t a one-time effort. It’s an ongoing commitment to authenticity, empathy, and connection. It’s about constantly listening, learning, and evolving alongside your community.

So, take these questions and run with them. Use them as a starting point for deeper conversations with your audience. And most importantly, be prepared to act on what you learn. After all, being human isn’t just about saying the right things – it’s about doing them too.

Ready to get even more human? We’re here to help. Reach out to us at hello@thedrmtm.com for a free consultation on infusing more humanity into your brand communications.

Here’s to creating art that touches hearts and changes lives,

Surale + Laura + Cheryl

P.S. We’d love to hear how these questions work for you. Drop us a line and share your insights – let’s learn from each other!