New Brand Identity, Website and Space Launch

With an inventive approach to philanthropy and artistic support that is rooted in creativity, care, and experimentation, Ruth Arts launched nearly eighteen months ago. During this time, the Foundation has honored the legacy of its benefactor Ruth DeYoung Kohler II (1941–2020) by establishing ten distinct programs: Artist Choice, Sites & Stewardship, Future Studies, Global Formations, Thought Leaders, Core Grants, RDK Legacy, Wisconsin Artist Grants, Wisconsin Special Project Grants, and Scholarships.

Now in its second year of operations, Ruth Arts plans to translate its initiatives into in-person experiences by announcing an arts space to open in the Walker’s Point neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Anchored in the importance of convening people, sharing and demystifying the creative process, and platforming artists as change agents, the new programming space will open in 2024, with more details forthcoming.

To reflect its growth and new directions, Ruth Arts debuts a new brand identity by design studio Omnivore with website design and development by Rahul Subhash Shinde & Lukas Eigler-Harding. The new rutharts.org delineates between the various programs inaugurated in the past year, hosts their ongoing publishing efforts, and creates more meaningful ways to stay up-to-date on programs, learn more about organizations supported by Ruth Arts, and share the broad spectrum of the Foundation’s activities.

“We launched Ruth Arts nearly two years ago with a commitment to honor Ruth’s legacy by staying ambitious, creative, and rooted in the people making things happen. We have traveled, brainstormed, sat with artists, hosted dinners, and learned through convening some of the most dedicated and risk-taking arts organizers across the continent,” said Executive Director Karen Patterson. “This time has given us more clarity and the inspiration to dig in and reimagine. We are incredibly honored to work with Omnivore on our new identity, who took such a thoughtful and rigorous approach—they mirrored our work and helped us illuminate where we are going.

This process led us to think through a new art space in Milwaukee for convenings, projects, and programs as an extension of what we care about most: the creative process and bringing new ideas to the forefront. These two sites—the digital and physical—are manifestations of the values that guide us: care, curiosity, and hospitality. We can’t wait to see you there!”

—