Dear Future Art Exhibit
Overview
Dear Future was a mixed-media art exhibition featuring photography, video, and costume work created in collaboration with children living in institutional care in Cali, Colombia. The exhibition was designed to raise awareness, inspire action, and generate support for child welfare programs through the power of storytelling and art.
The marketing challenge extended beyond promoting a single event. We needed to sell out a high-profile opening night, drive attendance throughout a week of gallery programming, and convert visitors into long-term supporters of the organization's mission. To achieve this, we developed a multi-channel campaign targeting four distinct audience segments through strategic messaging, community partnerships, digital advertising, experiential marketing, and interactive engagement opportunities.
The campaign extended beyond the gallery walls, ultimately leading to inclusion in the Fashion Institute of Technology's exhibition, It's a Kid's World! Play, Imagine, Create, where the project reached new audiences and expanded awareness of the children's stories.
My Role & Responsibilities
I led the marketing and audience engagement strategy for the exhibition from planning through execution, collaborating closely with designers, developers, and event staff.
Key responsibilities included:
Developed the communications and marketing strategy to drive attendance, awareness, and donor engagement.
Identified four target audience segments and developed tailored messaging and outreach strategies for each, including art enthusiasts, members of the Colombian community and culture supporters, families connected to our organization’s mission, and New Yorkers seeking unique cultural experiences.
Managed digital marketing initiatives, including Meta advertising campaigns and audience targeting.
Partnered with designers to create exhibition marketing assets, environmental graphics, and promotional materials.
Built and managed the exhibition website, including landing pages, donation experiences, event information, and audience engagement pathways.
Designed audience engagement journeys that connected exhibit experiences with opportunities for donations, sponsorships, and ongoing involvement.
Identified how New Yorkers discover local events and built social content around those behaviors, including popular “free things to do in NYC” themes.
Coordinated marketing efforts surrounding the exhibition's inclusion at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C67IV3YSTQ9/ [display this reel] Madeleine - is there a better way to display the reel? Could this be put into a graphic with this other reel?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-dwDU-yb6F/ [display this reel]
[picture of website?]
Outcome
Dear Future successfully combined art, storytelling, and advocacy to engage audiences both inside and outside the gallery space. The exhibition welcomed hundreds of visitors throughout its run, generated $20,000 in donations, and achieved 100% of its fundraising goal. Through targeted outreach, experiential marketing, and strategic community partnerships, the campaign drove attendance, increased awareness of child welfare issues, and created multiple pathways for audience engagement and giving.
[Insert picture of the event]
By integrating donation opportunities, sponsorship education, and interactive experiences throughout the exhibit journey, attendees went from passive observers into active participants in the organization's mission. The project's selection for exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Technology further expanded its reach, introducing new audiences to the stories, creativity, and aspirations of children in institutional care.
[do we have pictures of the FIT event]
