Communicating The Arts

05/06/2026

What does a sustainable museum look like? 🏛️ 🌿

It goes far beyond a single exhibition or initiative.

From exhibition design to institutional planning, cultural organizations are increasingly rethinking how their decisions today shape the world of tomorrow.

This October, we are proud to host part of Communicating the Arts Ottawa-Gatineau 2026 at the Canadian Museum of History, a building designed by Canadian architect Douglas Cardinal in dialogue with the surrounding landscape and environment. 🏞️

We look forward to welcoming delegates from around the world to one of Canada's most remarkable museum spaces this October.

Happy World Environment Day! 🌍

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 – 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮-𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀 (𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘰𝘶𝘷𝘳𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦)
📅 13–16 October 2026
📍 Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada
🎟️ Reserve your pass: https://my.weezevent.com/communicating-the-arts-ottawa-2026

03/06/2026

How can branding build trust in cultural institutions? 🤝

Today, branding goes beyond visibility. It shapes how organisations are understood.

Our latest article explores how cultural leaders are approaching branding as a tool for trust, relevance, and public engagement by previewing two highly anticipated talks this edition:

🔴 Riva Harrison, Vice President of Education and Public Affairs at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and Ryan Hughes, Chief Strategy Officer at Humanity, discuss how branding can activate empathy and public engagement around human rights.

🔴 Corinne Jongh, Head of Brand & Marketing at the Van Gogh Museum, explores how a more human centred approach can build emotional connection with audiences.

Read the full article 👉 https://communicatingthearts.com/resources/brandingculturalinstitutions

What makes people trust a cultural institution and recommend it to others? Join us in Ottawa - Gatineau as cultural leaders share how branding is helping answer that question.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 – 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮-𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀 (𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘰𝘶𝘷𝘳𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦)
📅 13–16 October 2026
📍 Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada
🎟️ Reserve your pass: https://my.weezevent.com/communicating-the-arts-ottawa-2026

At Communicating the Arts Ottawa-Gatineau 2026, leading cultural institutions reveal how branding has become a strategic tool for trust, relevance, and public engagement through an approach centred on perception, trust, and emotional connection. In the cultural sector, branding is no longer about

01/06/2026

Can cultural impact be measured? 📊

Attendance numbers rarely tell the whole story.

At Communicating the Arts Ottawa - Gatineau 2026, Bonnie Goodman, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at The Music Center: Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles, will share how the organisation developed a new way to understand the impact of its work beyond attendance figures.

Applied across more than 1,000 events annually, the Theory of Change framework helps connect programs to outcomes and better understand how cultural experiences reach and engage communities.

In 2025, the process was applied across all of The Music Center’s programs for the first time, offering new insights into audience engagement and cultural impact.

Read more 👉 https://communicatingthearts.com/bonnie-goodman

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 – 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮-𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀 (𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘰𝘶𝘷𝘳𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦)
📅 13–16 October 2026
📍 Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada
🎟️ Reserve your pass: https://my.weezevent.com/communicating-the-arts-ottawa-2026

29/05/2026

Carmen Chávez joined the 30 UNDER 30 Mentorship Program with a simple question:“what skills do I need to take the next step in my career?” 📈

Passionate about making music and theatre more accessible, Carmen Chávez has seen firsthand the role the arts can play in cultural sustainability and community well being. Motivated by the impact the arts have had on her own life, she hopes to create similar opportunities for others through her work.

Mentored by Jacquelin Low, Director of Operations at The Last Great Hunt, Carmen spent the past six months exploring professional development and navigating her next steps within the cultural sector.

"𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮."

Through mentorship conversations and masterclasses, Carmen gained confidence in asking the right questions, identifying the best opportunities, and strengthening key skills.

"𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘰𝘳. 𝘐 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳."

Thank you Jacquelin for supporting the next generation of cultural professionals 👏

👉 Read more on Carmen's journey: https://communicatingthearts.com/carmen-chavez-mentee

If Carmen's experience resonates with you, applications for the next 30 UNDER 30 mentorship cohort are still open. The deadline has been extended until 15 June.

👉 Apply here: https://forms.gle/qKCnBPFGK6VxQqy58
👉 Read more about the program: https://communicatingthearts.com/30under30-2026

28/05/2026

How do you build support for work whose impact cannot always be quantified?

Trust grows through relationships and a shared sense of purpose. 🌱

At Communicating the Arts Ottawa-Gatineau 2026, Fiona Valverde, Vice President of Revenue Generation at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, will share lessons from more than a decade of fundraising around work centered on identity and cultural dialogue.

As the museum expanded its reach beyond its home region, new questions emerged. How do you build long term donor relationships around work whose outcomes are social and cultural? How do you communicate value when impact is not always visible in concrete ways?

Through successes and challenges along the way, Fiona reflects on how trust and shared values can help build lasting support.

Read more 👉https://communicatingthearts.com/fiona-valverde

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 – 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮-𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀 (𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘰𝘶𝘷𝘳𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦)
📅 13–16 October 2026
📍 Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada
🎟️ Reserve your pass: https://my.weezevent.com/communicating-the-arts-ottawa-2026

27/05/2026

When a crisis reaches a cultural institution, the response can become part of the story itself. 🔥

Some conversations cannot wait until October❗

This is why we are launching 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘴, a new online series bringing together voices from across the cultural sector ahead of Communicating the Arts Ottawa - Gatineau 2026.

Moderated by CEO Corinne Estrada, our first panel brings together:
🔴 🇬🇧 Tracy Jones, Head of Communications, National Gallery
🔴 🇨🇦 Liliane Lê, Vice President, Public Affairs and Marketing, National Gallery of Canada
🔴 🇺🇲 Ryan Taylor, President and General Director, Minnesota Opera
🔴 🇺🇲 Kim Mitchell, Partner, Brunswick Group

From attacks on artworks and questions around migration to moments of institutional change, the panel will explore situations cultural organisations increasingly find themselves navigating today.

How do institutions respond when trust is at stake? Silence is no longer an option.

Join us as we open the conversation.

📅 18 June 2026
🔗 Register for free here : https://forms.gle/Aqx5ktq2LFHumpr47

22/05/2026

How do you find your place in the cultural sector while still building your career? 🪴

For 30 Under 30 mentee Eliana Famà, the mentorship program became a space to reflect on how to navigate the cultural sector and build confidence while shaping her next professional steps.

Paired with mentor Bart Ooghe, Head of Marketing, Communications and Audiences at the Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK Gent), their conversations offered insight into the realities of working in the arts today, from recruitment perspectives to the soft skills and adaptability often needed to grow within the sector.

What made the experience especially meaningful was the openness of the dialogue, creating space for both mentor and mentee to share perspectives and learn from one another.

As Bart reflects:
“This was my first time as a mentor, and it turned out to be a very interesting trajectory. The open nature of the program invites both parties to explore which way to take the conversation. I probably gained a fresh perspective from my mentee as much as she hopefully did from me 😊”

Thank you Bart and Eliana for sharing this experience. 🙌

👉 Read Eliana’s journey: https://communicatingthearts.com/eliana-fam-mentee
👉 Learn more and apply to the 30 Under 30 mentorship program: https://communicatingthearts.com/30under30-2026

21/05/2026

What happens when people truly connect with openness? 🤝

New conversations begin. Perspectives shift. Communities feel more connected.

On this World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development by UNESCO, we are reminded that cultural exchange creates opportunities for people to come together and discover new ways of seeing the world.

Today, these encounters matter more than ever.

This spirit is also at the heart of our theme for this edition where cultural professionals from around the world will gather to share perspectives and build new connections.

This year we have more networking opportunities to exchange ideas and continue conversations across the conference.

Happy World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. 🌍

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 – 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮-𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀 (𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘰𝘶𝘷𝘳𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦)
📅 13–16 October 2026
📍 Ottawa–Gatineau, Canada
🎟️ Reserve your pass : https://my.weezevent.com/communicating-the-arts-ottawa-2026

19/05/2026

When a museum enters a crisis today, the public is watching the response in real time. 🔥

A robbery. A leadership controversy. A public backlash online.

In a matter of hours, trust can shift, narratives can spiral, and institutional reaction itself can become part of the story.

At Communicating the Arts Ottawa-Gatineau 2026, we will explore how museums and cultural institutions are navigating an era of permanent scrutiny, where communication is no longer peripheral to crisis management, but central to institutional resilience.

Through conversations and case studies from institutions including the Drents Museum , the National Gallery of Canada, and Remai Modern, CTA 2026 will examine how cultural leaders are responding to moments of uncertainty, public pressure, and growing demands for transparency.

Because today, audiences are watching not only the fire, but also the response through the smoke.

Read the full article 👉 https://communicatingthearts.com/resources/themuseumisburningnowwhat

Thank you to our speakers : Paul Klarenbeek, Liliane Lê, Steven Loft, Stephanie McKay.
Read more on our speakers 👉https://communicatingthearts.com/ottawa-gatineau-speakersanddelegates

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 – 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮-𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀 (𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘰𝘶𝘷𝘳𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦)
📅 13–16 October 2026
📍 Ottawa–Gatineau, Canada
🎟️ Reserve your pass : https://my.weezevent.com/communicating-the-arts-ottawa-2026

Scandals. Robberies. Leadership crises. Public backlash. From the break-in at the Drents Museum to the Louvre heist that dominated headlines at the end of 2025, museums are entering an era of permanent scrutiny, where every decision can trigger a communication crisis. At Communicating the Arts 2026

18/05/2026

How can museums help bridge the world? 🖇️

“Museums are trusted public spaces where people encounter stories, objects and one another.” -International Council of Museums - ICOM

This year’s International Museum Day, organised by International Museum Day - ICOM, explores the theme 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘴 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘋𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, highlighting the role museums continue to play as spaces of cultural exchange and connection.

At a time marked by crises and social fragmentation, museums continue creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds and generations to come together through culture, memory, and shared experience.

This vision resonates strongly with the theme of our upcoming conference, 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝘀 (𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘰𝘶𝘷𝘳𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦), where cultural professionals from around the world will gather to reflect on how museums can continue building trust through communication and public engagement.

Happy International Museum Day to all the museums and cultural professionals helping keep these spaces alive. 💛🏛️

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 – 𝗢𝘁𝘁𝗮𝘄𝗮-𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘂 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
📅 13–16 October 2026
📍 Ottawa–Gatineau, Canada
🎟️ Reserve your pass : https://my.weezevent.com/communicating-the-arts-ottawa-2026