Arts Management & Marketing

see bio/resume

(Addendum: Arts, Selected Employers/Clients)
Debbie L. Carson
Redington Shores, Florida 33708 • (727) 254-9250 • dcarson@tampabay.rr.com
• The Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, FL
Organize and manage the marketing function including establishing a formal results-driven marketing program on a limited budget where none had previously existed, with more frequent, regular and consistent messaging, all with very limited human and fiscal resources. The program, which bore early fruit, continues to be successful – the theatre’s profile has been advanced among patrons, artists, and promoters, which has led to increased ticket sales, media coverage, memberships and financial support. Created protocols for, and conducted marketing research which has resulted in an effective longterm branding initiative, which will include a new and improved website and integrated social media program.

• City of St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, St. Petersburg, FL
Provided communications research and support to the City’s arts and cultural consultant, in the initial development of the city’s emerging Arts Alliance, as directed by the Mayor; inaugural member of this organization created to provide leadership for the financial success, quality, diversity and organizational stability of the arts and cultural community of St. Petersburg.

• Pinellas Opportunity Counsel, St. Petersburg, FL
Provided communications support to a developing multi-layered program that brought the arts to and helped revitalize the marginalized and underserved burgeoning Latino community in Clearwater, Florida; the program resulted in significantly and positively impacting the entire region.

• Florida Craftsmen, St. Petersburg, FL
Provided marketing and branding consultation to this statewide fine craft arts organization at its St. Petersburg headquarters, including project to rebrand and market retail gallery as the statewide destination for Florida fine craft; support continues with special consultation for its most successful to-date, annual two-day, offsite sales event – CraftArt, one of the organization’s largest annual fund development opportunities; various exhibitions; a corporate giving program; grant writing contributions that resulted in a $50K award. Also developed strategies for branded product placements in existing high-end retail outlets statewide.

• Art du Monde Galleries, St. Petersburg, FL
Managed the marketing and public relations program for a 2008 exhibition of mixed media works which, in addition n to attracting media coverage, resulted in one of the most well-attended openings and successful shows in the galleries’ history.

• Gulf Coast Museum of Art, St. Petersburg, FL
Led the team that developed a marketing plan to reposition and boost revenues for this 73 year old museum with significant holdings throughout six galleries displaying its permanent collection, a diverse selection of works by contemporary Florida artists, annual traveling exhibitions, and an elaborate sculpture garden.

• StageWorks Theatre, Tampa, FL
Successfully increased group ticket sales for two productions – A Conversation with Georgia O’Keefe, staged at Studio 620 in St. Petersburg and The Sisters Rosenzweig, at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center’s Shimberg Playhouse.

• WJCT Public Media, Jacksonville, FL
Successfully developed and instituted a new brand for WJCT, the PBS and NPR station based in Jacksonville, Florida that serves a population of nearly 2 million in North Florida and Southeastern Georgia. This was done through quantitative and qualitative research, development of new creative – logo, tagline, corporate identity program, an advertising and public relations launch that included the use of WJCT’s three media platforms – WJCT Public Television, 89.9 FM WJCT Public Radio and WJCT Online, along with WJCT Magazine, paid and trade print, broadcast and outdoor media, and public relations activities. As measured by marketing research, the branding effort has advanced the profile of WJCT, increased audience and financial support (corporate and individual).

• The Southwest Florida Symphony, Fort Myers, FL
Provided account management, strategy and market consultation, and public relations services for Lee County’s only professional symphony orchestra, its adult and children’s choruses, and its youth symphony.

• The Walter Turken Training for Adoption Program, Naples, FL
Provided account management, developed website and generated national media exposure for this newly established educational foundation that employs community volunteers to implement a training, behavior, socialization and family counseling program in animal shelters nationwide to help make shelter dogs more adoptable, and thus reduce the level of animals euthanized each year. The program was been in Naples. West Palm Beach, Seattle and Dallas.

• Bradenton Herald/East Manatee Herald, Bradenton, FL
Provided account management to daily metropolitan newspaper; marketing planning, advertising counsel and support to introduce new regional daily newspaper product to burgeoning eastern Manatee County; revamped classified section.

• Sanibel Island Adventures, Sanibel, FL
Acquired account; provided account management, developed an award-winning website and offered marketing consultation and strategy and for organization offering luxury catamaran charters off the Southwest Florida coast, the Keys and the Caribbean.

• The Ringling Museum, Sarasota, FL
Provided account management, consultation and the marketing plan for the museum’s FY1992 Capital Campaign.

English