Community Art School Becomes Mark Arts

The Wichita Center for the Arts approached us in 2015 to explore naming and identity in advance of its relocation to a new purpose-built educational arts center. We leveraged the opportunity presented by a new campus to create a name that generated renewed interest in and support for the center. We positioned it as a hip, happening community resource that connects with younger, more diverse audiences, while also addressing benefactors’ wishes to name the center after the late Mary R. Koch, a supporter for the Wichita Center for the Arts and mother of Charles Koch, Wichita’s most prominent entrepreneur and one of the world’s wealthiest men.

Art enhances the community and creative industry. Greteman Group’s outreach conveys this vibrant spirit.
KATY DORRAH
Mark Arts
executive director

Ever-Changing Logo Provides Window for Art

The logo consists of a clean, stylized and modern “M” letterform with an abstract “A” embedded in a diagonal shape. Classic geometric forms build a dynamic, three-dimensional symbol. It reproduces beautifully in one color or in a variety of vibrant and appropriate color variations. It works across media: signage, web, print, email, TV and video. This logo breaks through, creating something unique and timeless. The logo window becomes our transformational “big idea.” It affords endless opportunities to fill it with ever-changing palettes, textures, artwork, patterns and photography. This fluid ability to constantly morph keeps it relevant and delightful. It creates a canvas that can be serious one moment and playful the next. This logo mirrors a Kansas sky. It changes every time you look at it.

Center Makes Its Mark

The chosen name – Mark Arts – is based on the initials M.R.K. but offers greater meaning. It communicates the idea of making your mark. Throughout history, artists have left their imprint on their work. Their mark. This has often been called a maker’s mark. It can be a stamp, a seal, a signature, a brushstroke or a symbol.

Fresh Start Creates High Hopes

The logo and name create an identity that captures attention across traditional and new media, from collateral and wearables to the website and enews. It can connect with current supporters while reaching out to new audiences. It appeals to a broad demographic: young and old, urban and rural, wealthy and underprivileged. It welcomes and encourages all to enter the doors. We chose not to include Wichita in the name because our goal as a regional art center has a bigger footprint. We were able to secure MarkArtsKS.com as its URL, further clarifying the larger geographic target market.