California African American Museum (CAAM) Issues Marketing and Communications RFP

The Marketing and Communications Consultant is responsible for overseeing the California African American Museum’s (CAAM) marketing and communications strategies and practiced, in collaboration with staff, designers, consultants, and others. The Consultant works with staff to create and implement strategic plans for marketing and communications, in line with CAAM’s long-term goals.

Background:

Founded in 1977, the California African American Museum has a long and rich history. The first African American museum of art, history, and culture fully supported by a state, CAAM was the direct result of a sustained, multiyear campaign of activism undertaken by visionary founders and community members. Its creation was an early and tangible recognition by the State of California of the critically important role African Americans have played in the American West’s cultural, economic, and political development.

CAAM began formal operations in 1981 and was initially housed in temporary quarters. Longtime arts advocate Aurelia Brooks was the Museum’s first director, and the first object acquired for CAAM’s permanent collection was a magnificent bronze bust by Richmond Barthé of civil rights activist Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. In 1984, CAAM moved to its permanent home in Exposition Park, just south of Downtown Los Angeles: a 44,000-square-foot facility designed by African American architects Jack Haywood and Vince Proby. The new facility’s inaugural exhibition was The Black Olympians 1904-1984, curated by CAAM’s History Curator Lonnie Bunch, now Founding Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibition debuted in July 1984 just as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad were opening in Los Angeles.

Today, CAAM sits among the many major institutions transforming Exposition Park and South Los Angeles, including the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum, and the proposed Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

The Museum’s permanent collection houses 4,000 objects that span landscape painting and portraiture, modern and contemporary art, historical objects and print materials and mixed-media artworks. Though the collection emphasizes objects pertinent to California and the American West, it also houses a growing collection of artworks from the African diaspora as well as important works by African Americans from across the United States.

CAAM has a strong mandate to support the work of under-represented artists of color and to think expansively about the way African American artists have contributed to American culture and the world at large.

Scope of Work:

The Marketing and Communications Consultant is responsible for overseeing the California African American Museum’s (CAAM) marketing and communications strategies and practiced, in collaboration with staff, designers, consultants, and others. The Consultant works with staff to create and implement strategic plans for marketing and communications, in line with CAAM’s long-term goals, as described in the responsibilities and functions below:

• Devote 36 hours per month on assignments determined by CAAM
• Writing and organizing the quarterly direct mail brochure (Here & Now) and other print pieces and e-flyers
• Creating content and handling day-to-day updates for the Museum’s website
• Overseeing the Museum’s social media strategy by platform and working with consultants on content creation and postings
• Media relations, including working with publicists and creating the seasonal online image database for press
• Identifying and pursuing outreach partnerships
• Managing paid to advertise when applicable, including street banners, print, and radio ads, and sponsorships
• Identify target growth audiences and implement strategies for reaching them with the Museum’s messages
• Regular meetings with the Museum’s Executive Director and Deputy Director in-person and via phone
• Attending key public events at the Museum
• The consultant is expected to provide weekly check-ins (via email or phone call), monthly status reports, and come to CAAM’s Administration Office for an in-person staff meeting at least once a month.

Contractor shall adhere to schedule developed in partnership with CAAM staff to meet the stated goals.

• Consultant shall respond by email or phone within 24 hours unless CAAM is otherwise notified beforehand of the unavailability of the Consultant.
• Consultant shall prepare and deliver the final product on time.
• Consultant shall prepare, write, and organize, and deliver the content for the museum’s quarterly publication (“Here & Now”) and other print pieces and e-flyers.
• Consultant shall create and oversee the day-to-day content creation and postings on the Museum’s social media accounts and website.
• Consultant shall provide final reports to the Museum’s Director on target growth audience and media relations strategies.

Due Date:

November 5th

Address:

California African American Museum

Attention: Fiscal Officer

RFP 18-90003 Marketing and Communications

(Proposer’s Name)

600 State Drive, Exposition Park

Los Angeles, CA 90037

Edelman PR and Zeno Group are California based agencies.