John Michael Kohler Arts Center

I joined the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in 2021 as Marketing Projects Manager, coordinating marketing and promotional production for one of the Midwest’s most active contemporary arts institutions.

The Arts Center hosts a wide range of programming throughout the year, including rotating art exhibitions, performing arts events, educational programming, community festivals, fundraising initiatives, and artist residency programs. During my time there, the organization was also preparing for and launching the Art Preserve, a major new facility dedicated to the work of self-taught and contemporary artists.

My role served as the central coordination point between departments across the organization and the in-house marketing team responsible for producing all promotional materials.

Project Coordination & Marketing Production
I managed incoming marketing requests from across the institution and ensured the marketing team had the information, timelines, and resources needed to execute projects successfully.

This included coordinating marketing materials for:
• Rotating art exhibitions
• Educational programs and workshops
• Performing arts programming (theatre, dance, concerts)
• Community events and festivals
• Fundraising and membership initiatives
• Artist residency programming
• Programming across multiple properties, including the Art Preserve, Mary Nohl Art Environment, and James Tellen Woodland Sculpture Park

Deliverables included a wide range of materials such as exhibition signage, gallery guides, promotional handouts, event marketing assets, and institutional communications.

Event Marketing & Festival Support
The Arts Center produces several large-scale annual events that draw significant regional attendance.

I supported the marketing and promotional production for events including:
• Levitt AMP Summer Music Series: A free outdoor concert series hosted in the public park adjacent to the Arts Center, funded in part through national Levitt AMP grants.
• Midsummer Festival of the Arts: A nationally recognized juried art festival featuring artists from across the United States exhibiting and selling their work.

For these events, I contributed to the design and production of event signage, promotional materials, and merchandise.

I also helped introduce event merchandise sales, expanding the use of branded T-shirts beyond donor gifts to create an additional revenue opportunity during events.

Design & Creative Production
In addition to project management responsibilities, I also supported the team with hands-on creative production across multiple media formats.

Design contributions included:
• Event signage and environmental graphics, including braille signage for all restrooms, designed for inclusivity
• Educational program materials
• Promotional marketing pieces
• Event merchandise and apparel design
• Outdoor event booth/tent graphics

Marketing Merchandise & SWAG Development
I was responsible for sourcing, designing, and producing branded merchandise used for events and promotional initiatives. This included apparel, giveaways, and other promotional items distributed during festivals, concerts, and membership events.

Continuing Collaboration
After leaving my full-time role to focus on my own consulting work, I have continued to collaborate with the Arts Center as a freelance design partner, providing creative support during periods when the internal marketing team requires additional capacity.