Festival of Black Arts & Ideas

The Chattanooga Festival for Black Arts and Ideas (CFBAI) is a city-wide celebration that highlights and honors Black culture, creativity, and history. Held annually during Juneteenth, the festival brings together artists, musicians, performers, scholars, and community members to celebrate Black art, culture, and heritage. The festival provides a platform for local and national artists to showcase their work, while also fostering meaningful discussions on issues that impact the Black community. As a new and rapidly growing cultural event, CFBAI sought to establish itself as Chattanooga’s premier Juneteenth and Black arts festival, raise awareness, and engage local audiences while building a sustainable foundation for years to come.

Challenge
CFBAI faced the challenge of building recognition and legitimacy in a city that had limited experience with a large-scale celebration of Black arts and culture. While the festival’s mission was clear, it needed to raise awareness, engage diverse audiences, and generate support for the event’s long-term sustainability. A key goal was to build community pride and showcase the festival as a key cultural event for Chattanooga, highlighting both the artistic talent and the rich history of the Black community. Additionally, CFBAI sought to drive fundraising efforts to support future programming and ensure the festival’s growth.

Our Approach
Our approach was centered around creating a compelling brand identity for CFBAI and using strategic marketing to engage and inform the community. We employed a multi-channel strategy that included social media management, film production, photography, print design, and brand positioning to promote the festival, showcase its artists and events, and generate excitement and support from the local community.

1. Social Media Strategy & Engagement
We developed and executed a comprehensive social media strategy to create visibility for CFBAI across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Our content included artist spotlights, event previews, historical features related to Juneteenth, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the festival’s preparation. We created a cohesive and visually striking social media feed that showcased the vibrancy of Black culture and the festival’s lineup. Through regular posts, stories, and event countdowns, we built anticipation leading up to the festival, while also engaging with the community by promoting local businesses, artists, and sponsors involved with the event. Paid ads and targeted promotions also expanded CFBAI’s reach, ensuring that people across Chattanooga were aware of the festival and its significance.

2. Film & Video Storytelling
Film played a critical role in capturing the essence of CFBAI and telling its story in a compelling way. We created short films and video segments that featured festival highlights, artist performances, and interviews with community leaders and festival organizers. One of the key projects was a documentary-style video that explored the cultural significance of Juneteenth, weaving in elements of history, celebration, and local pride. These films were shared on social media, the festival’s website, and at local events to build momentum for the festival. They not only helped legitimize CFBAI but also connected the event to broader national conversations about Black history, art, and social justice.

3. Photography & Event Coverage
We provided professional photography services to capture the festival’s events, ensuring that each moment was documented and could be shared with the community and beyond. From vibrant performances and art installations to intimate interviews with artists, our photography highlighted the festival’s diversity, energy, and importance. These images were used in social media campaigns, press releases, and promotional materials, bringing the festival’s story to life in a way that invited people to experience the event. The photos also served as a lasting record of the festival’s success and growth, providing visual content for future promotions and fundraising efforts.

4. Brand Positioning & Messaging
To establish CFBAI as Chattanooga’s premiere Juneteenth and Black arts festival, we worked closely with the event organizers to define a clear and powerful brand message. We focused on creating a narrative that emphasized the cultural importance of the festival, the value of celebrating Black art and history, and the pride that the event brought to the Chattanooga community. This messaging was consistent across all platforms, from social media to print materials, and helped build a sense of unity and pride among attendees. We also ensured that CFBAI’s messaging highlighted its commitment to elevating Black voices and artists, positioning it as a key cultural institution within the city.

5. Print Design for Promotions & Fundraising
We developed a suite of print materials to help promote the festival and support fundraising efforts. These included event posters, programs, brochures, and donation cards, all designed to reflect the vibrant aesthetic of the festival and the rich cultural themes it celebrated. The design of these materials was carefully crafted to ensure that the festival's branding was consistent and recognizable. The event posters, in particular, were designed to catch the attention of potential attendees and donors, featuring bold visuals and key festival details. Additionally, we created fundraising collateral such as sponsorship packages and donation cards to help secure financial support from local businesses, organizations, and individuals. These materials were critical in building relationships with sponsors and rallying community support to ensure the festival's sustainability.

6. Fundraising Campaign Support
To help CFBAI raise the necessary funds to support future festivals and programs, we integrated targeted fundraising campaigns into the overall strategy. Through a combination of social media ads, email marketing, and donor outreach, we promoted sponsorship opportunities and encouraged direct donations. Our campaign messaging emphasized the festival’s impact on the local arts community, its celebration of Black history, and the importance of keeping the event free and accessible to all. By positioning CFBAI as a cultural cornerstone of Chattanooga, we were able to inspire community support and financial contributions, ensuring the festival’s continued growth.

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