Ruth Hartt - Culture for Hire

25/12/2025

20/11/2025

24/09/2025

Most arts audience research stops at cultural participation.

Real growth begins beyond it.

18/09/2025

Classical music is booking online. But the pipeline myth is dead in the water.

27/08/2025

One of these things is not like the other.

12/08/2025

Two women, both 40 years old. Same income, same neighborhood, both previously bought tickets for the same show. One comes for a night of fun with friends. The other comes to disconnect from daily stress.

Your database says they’re identical.
They’re not.

Arts organizations have long relied on demographic and transactional data to segment audiences. Age, income, ticket history, loyalty, and zip code have been proxies for interest and intent.

But these categories have always had a blind spot:
They describe WHO someone is and WHAT they’ve done, but never WHY they might engage.

This data looks like insight. But here’s the rub:

• It’s comfort data.
• It’s descriptive, not prescriptive.
• It’s missing what will actually motivate patrons to buy.

Commercial brands get this.
Even Netflix knows you’re stressed before you do.
Meanwhile, arts organizations are still asking ‘How old are you?’ instead of ‘What do you need?’

Revolution is coming.
And it starts with asking the right question.

Tap the link in bio and I’ll send you the full breakdown.

18/04/2025

Traditional marketing pushes products out.

Customer-first marketing pulls people in.

17/04/2025

Most arts marketing isn’t customer-focused. It’s self-focused.

And that’s exactly why consumers are tuning out.

When we market the product—instead of aligning our communication with the real lives, needs, and motivations of our audiences—we unintentionally make it harder for people to care.

🚫 Being "world-class" isn’t a value proposition.
🚫 Saying "art is for everyone" doesn’t make it relevant.
🚫 Claiming "music brings people together" isn’t enough anymore.

Real engagement starts when you flip the script:

🎯 Focus less on what you offer.
🎯 Focus more on the outcomes your audience is seeking.
🎯 Connect your art to what's familiar for THEM.

I created a free checklist to help you spot product-first habits—and start building customer-first touchpoints that actually resonate.

Want a copy? Drop a 🎯 in the comments and I’ll send it your way!

16/04/2025

An arts organization proclaiming its artistic excellence is like a hotel proclaiming its wifi.

That's a baseline expectation, not a differentiator.

*hides behind lobby plant*

P.S. If you’re curious about how to build a real differentiator — not just claim excellence — I’ve built the New Growth Playbook for arts organizations. Want in? Drop a 🪴 or DM me and I’ll send you the info.

15/04/2025

"Music for everyone."
Only if they don't clap until the end.
Only if they already know what "concerto" means.
Only if they turn off their phones.

That’s not real welcome. That’s designing for insiders.

Let's make UNIVERSAL DESIGN the new standard in the arts.