Situation:
The Huntington Arts Council (HAC) is one of Long Island’s premier cultural arts organizations – offering artistic programs and services to more than 250 member cultural organizations and individual artist members, and advancing Huntington’s position as the cultural center of Long Island. To help the HAC gain additional exposure for their programs and services, and to help generate excitement surrounding the 40th Anniversary of the HAC’s Huntington Summer Arts Festival, SmartMarketing Communications worked closely with HAC on a publicity campaign that resulted in unprecedented media coverage and increased attendance at HAC events and programs.

Smart Solution:
As part of a multi-faceted public relations campaign, SmartMarketing Communications created anticipation, excitement and awareness about HAC’s many specific programs throughout the year – and ensured that reporters throughout the region were kept abreast of the many events through regular media contact and updates. In particular, SmartMarketing Communications developed and executed a strong media relations campaign to support the 40th Anniversary celebration of the HAC’s Huntington Summer Arts Festival. In addition to creating and distributing weekly (sometimes daily) press releases and festival updates for key reporters to ensure listings and pre-publicity for each particular event, SmartMarketing Communications, also succeeded in securing on-site media coverage of targeted programs and artists/performers. SmartMarketing Communications also worked to help publicize and increase attendance at the Huntington Arts Council’s Second Annual Laff-Off in 2005. The event, which featured 15 of Long Island’s most talented up-and-coming comedians, attracted more than 600 people and raised more than $20,000 for the HAC.