Strategic Communications for Arts and Culture

I work with museums, galleries, brands and cultural organisations globally to communicate effectively, deepen audience engagement and strengthen partnerships.

Projects

National Portrait Gallery

Award-winning Brand & Marketing

Rebrand and cross-channel reopening campaign following £41m renovation. Brand partnerships, including Bloomberg, Apple and Chanel.

Stephen Friedman Gallery

Communications & Crisis Management

Implemented a communications review, leading to higher engagement on all channels. Managed closure and crisis communications.

Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2025

Programming & Partnerships

Worked with consultancy Culture Connect on the programming, partner management and speaker liaison of Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2025.

Services

Drawing on fifteen years' experience in world-leading arts organisations, I can work with you to develop communications and partnerships that are authentic and enduring.

Public Relations

Press and media relations strategy and management across print, digital and broadcast. Crisis communications, reputation and positioning advice and thought leadership.

Marketing & Brand

Brand positioning and rebranding, audience development and integrated marketing campaigns for exhibitions, events and artists.

Content & Digital

Editorial content, digital communications and social media strategy designed to reflect your organisation’s voice and connect with audiences.

Events & Programming

Conception, management and delivery of cultural events and programmes, including partner management, artist and speaker liaison.

Partnerships

Developing and managing brand, media and cultural partnerships that have a meaningful impact, commercial value and reach new audiences.

Testimonials

Emily played a pivotal role in one of the most significant moments in the organisation’s history. Her ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships, lead a team, and craft campaigns that resonate with audiences was impressive.

— National Portrait Gallery

Emily joined the gallery at short notice to support a major solo exhibition, leading on both exhibition strategy and press outreach. She hit the ground running from day one, quickly understood the brief, worked proactively with minimal direction, and integrated seamlessly with the team. Her professionalism, initiative, and collaborative approach made her a pleasure to work with and contributed significantly to the project's success.

— Waddington Custot

Emily is a fantastic leader with years of invaluable experience in the sector. Her approach is strategic and forward-thinking, and she is highly attuned to the broader landscape.

— Stephen Friedman Gallery

About

I help organisations shape how they are understood

At the National Portrait Gallery, London I was Marketing Lead for the award-winning 2023 rebrand and reopening of the museum following a £41 million renovation, overseeing integrated cross-channel campaigns during a period of significant transformation. I produce stand out campaigns that reach wide audiences, including blockbuster exhibitions for David Hockney, Cindy Sherman and Paul Cézanne.

I led press, digital and marketing communications at Stephen Friedman Gallery and managed events and marketing at Victoria Miro, working with artists such as Yayoi Kusama, David Shrigley and Grayson Perry. I have contributed to large scale international projects, such as Culture Summit Abu Dhabi 2025, working on programming, partner management and speaker liaison.

I am bilingual in English and French and work with clients internationally, using my experience to create tailored campaigns that resonate with your target audience.

Get in touch

If you need support with a project or partnership, do reach out and let's explore how we can work together.

emily@emilysummerscale.com