Cultural Strategists in Local City Government

The Stakes

Oakland's Cultural Strategists-in-Government program pairs artists with city departments to tackle civic challenges. Its report had to show city officials what the program had accomplished and help secure future funding, while staying true to the Oakland communities the work grows out of.

The Constraints

• Two audiences with different expectations: city officials and funders, and the artists and communities behind the program.
• One report, published in both print and web.
• It had to feel fresh and current while honoring Oakland's long history of organizing.

Key Decisions

• Archive meets present. I built collages that blend archival images of Oakland organizing with CSIG program photography, presenting the program as part of a continuing local tradition.
• One texture across eras. A printed texture unifies images from very different decades and sources.
• A grounded palette. I chose navy and rust orange to evoke trust and heritage.

The Outcome

The report gave CSIG a public record of its work in print and on the web, and program leadership now uses it as the go-to explanation of what the program does.