Storytelling Tools

Audience Research

Learn what we've discovered about the Arts and Cultural offerings in Columbus through the eyes of millennials.

Download: Columbus Millennials and the Arts research presentation

Primary Message

The people who create our city’s art have incredible stories that can be told with pride, passion, and inspiration. By using a common voice with these characteristics, we can unite our city’s artists, arts organizations, and advocates.

Be active. The platform brand carries an inspiring and purposeful tone of voice.

Be brief. We only have our readers’ attention for a brief moment. Make it count by explaining what’s in it for them right up front.

Be conversational. Eliminate jargon from writing. When we sound personable our audiences will want to interact with us more.

Be inspirational. The platform brand stems from the idea that Art Makes Columbus. Verbs like “discover,” “create,” and “invent” align with that idea, and set the tone for communications that will inspire action, involvement, and donations from our audiences.

Talking Points

Quick

The people who create art in our city have amazing stories. We believe knowing their stories will make you want to experience even more art all over our city. Check them out at columbusmakesart.com.

Medium

The people who create art in our city have amazing stories. Each of their stories is as different as the art they produce. But together, these artists all agree there’s no other place that has the opportunity, the community, and the support that Columbus provides. Art Makes Columbus and Columbus Makes Art. Check out these stories columbusmakesart.com.

Full

The people who create art in our city have amazing stories. They are stories full of inspiration, challenges, passion, and incredible successes. There’s no other place these artists would rather make their art. That’s because there's no other place that has the opportunities, the community, and the support that Columbus provides. Thank you for helping to make Columbus a place where art thrives. Art Makes Columbus and Columbus Makes Art. Check out these amazing stories at columbusmakesart.com.

Columbus Facts

Columbus was named the most intelligent city in the U.S. two years in a row and is ranked the third happiest city in the country. Think that’s a coincidence? Neither do we. Here are some more accolades that show why Columbus is an awesome place to be creative.

No. 3 of the top 5 most fashion-forward cities in the U.S. (fashionupevents.com, January 2014)

No. 3 in the top 20 large metros for fashion designers (The Atlantic Cities, September 2012)

A top city for equality, scoring a perfect 100 (Human Rights Campaign, November 2013)

Home to cultural and creative institutions like the Wexner Center for the Arts, the Columbus Museum of Art, and Thurber House

Among the 10 best cities to start a new career (Time, April 2014)

Among the U.S. top 10 cities of opportunity (Finance.Yahoo.com, March 2014)

Home to one of many vibrant arts districts, including the renowned Short North Arts District.

Named a secret foodie city and ranked No. 4 in the country for craft beer production

One of the 10 coolest cities in the Midwest (MSN, April 2013)

Opportunities to Engage

Tag interesting content with the #artmakescbus hashtag. Shape the conversation by sharing good content and encouraging participation through retweets, mentions, and questions.

#artmakescbus This hashtag can be used, when appropriate, in conjunction with #lifeincbus as a supporting tag.

Highlight artists and their stories, celebrate achievements, spread news stories, engage other brands, announce upcoming events, ask open-ended questions,and share behind-the-scenes points of view and images.

Facebook should be more story focused. Allow for a little more copy and context. Awesome images are key.

Instagram should be more experience focused. Photos from your event that reflect your fans experience. Beautiful photos of art are an experience in of themselves.

Twitter should be more event/action focused. You can tweet more than you can post on facebook, so while you also want to share stories and great images, you can get out event info and special offers. People want to know what they can do and even if they don’t want to attend an event themselves they may want to know that they live in a city that has such an event.

Brand your Facebook cover photo by placing the boxed-in logo transparency over an artist image of your choosing. Be sure to include the artist’s name and organization at the bottom center.

Emphasize the #artmakescbus hashtag by placing the type transparency over a photo of your chosen artist. Don’t forget the boxed-in logo and attribution, on the top and bottom respectively.

Feature the full-color campaign logo over the solid “ART” background, locking it up with the campaign URL and hashtag.

Emphasize the #artmakescbus hashtag on the solid “ART” background, using your choice of brand color. Lock it up with campaign logo and URL as shown.

Focus in on a detail of the artistic process, with the boxed-in logo transparency placed on top. Be sure to credit the artist’s name and organization.

Feature the full-color stacked campaign logo on a solid background.

Emphasize the “Art Makes Us” elements of the logo by altering the opacity levels.”

Use the campaign logo on a solid background, and lock it up with the hashtag.

Use the campaign logo over a textural photograph.

Use the campaign logo with the artist image of your choosing.

Feature the campaign hashtag with the artist of your choosing.

Lay type over an artist photograph.

Multiply type over an artist photograph.

Feature an artist’s quote on a solid color background.

Create a graphic type composition using campaign colors.

“The theater, a rejuvenated warehouse, or your refrigerator door… where did you last see art in Columbus? Snap a pic and share with #ArtMakesCbus”

“Know a talented local artist? Show them love and share your hometown pride using #ArtMakesCbus #LifeinCbus to win tickets to XX gallery opening.”

“Have you seen the new XX Exhibit at the @ColumbusMuseum? WOW. #ArtMakesCbus #LifeinCbus”

“#TBT to one of our favorites shows/exhibits/etc. image or link] Who remembers this? #ArtMakesCbus”

“Who’s headed to 400 Rich to check out the open galleries today? Here’s an artist spotlight to get your creativity flowing: [insert artist spotlight video – David Denniston, Mania Pothorski, etc.] #ArtMakesCbus”

“Last week for the XX Exhibit at the @ColumbusMuseum. Who’s going? Share and let us know what you’re most excited to see. #ArtMakesCbus”

“Who’s checked out the galleries recently at the @Wexarts? What’d you love most? #ArtMakesCbus”

“Who says nature can’t be art? Check out Blooms & Butterflies at the @FPConservatory. #ArtMakesCbus”

“Who’s going to the (always free) summer Wex Drive-In series? Here’s this year’s line-up: June 18: THE DARJEELING LIMITED from Wes Anderson, July 16: TOUCH OF EVIL from Orson Welles, August 13: CRY-BABY from John Waters. #ArtMakesCbus”

“Best local artists in the ‘bus? GO. #ArtMakesCbus #LifeinCbus”

Stories Behind the Art Videos

Our Stories Behind the Art videos are available for download or direct embedding via the Columbus Makes Art Vimeo channel. We encourage you to use these video assets on your organization's website, kiosks and any other opportunities you have to showcase these amazing stories. Links to each video and its respective embed code snippet is available below.