We put time, energy and resources into making great art. But does our work sell itself, or is there value in creating an identity that represents us and our work more broadly? Brand means more than just a logo. How do artists and arts companies develop brands that are as dynamic, creative and personal as the work they create?

Chaired by Director of the British Council in Australia, Nick Marchand, The Art of Branding the Arts will discuss why it’s important for artists, small arts organisations and large cultural institutions alike to create and cultivate strong brands. Our panel of arts marketing leaders, brand managers and experts in the field will share best practice examples from around the world and explore the role of brand strategy in the arts.

Ken Done is one of Australia’s most successful visual artists. He has exhibited and sold his iconic work around the world for over three decades and, in that time, has not only developed a strong brand of his own, he has become synonymous with “Brand Australia”. Ken will be joined by Opera Australia’s Sales and Marketing Director, Georgia Rivers to discuss OA’s recent journey to brand renewal as one of Australia’s largest cultural institutions, and her arts branding experiences in both Australia and the UK.

CEO of Interbrand Australia, Damian Borchok, whose studio recently developed a new visual identity for Opera Australia, rounds out the panel. With a portfolio that includes the world’s biggest corporations, Interbrand has also made a significant contribution to the arts through their work with local arts companies of all sizes, including Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, Griffin Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company and The New Theatre in Newtown.