Blue Medium, Inc.Founded by John Melick, Blue Medium is a PR company serving the visual arts, architecture and design communities. Based in NYC, the firm has been working with galleries, museums, foundations and architecture and design studios for over two decades. Melick’s successful approach is centered on sharing clients' stories via editorial-quality content while also respecting the essential need for independent, reputable media coverage. While the new hybrid work model has prompted Blue Medium to switch to a smaller office space in Chelsea, the team continues to grow to keep up with updated service offerings across visual arts PR and digital content strategy. Most recently, the company has shown their innovative capabilities with new exhibitions, a podcast launch and a film promotion.
Notable long-term clients
Acquavella Galleries, Archives of American Art at Smithsonian Institution, City of Miami Beach (Art in Public Places), Fabric Workshop & Museum, Friedman Benda Gallery, Galerie Lelong & Co, Galerie St. Etienne, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), SWA Architects
Recent client wins
Megan Fox Kelly Art Advisory, Sony Pictures Classics, Woodmere Art Museum
What was your biggest business challenge this year and how did your team overcome it?
Most of our clients need a physical audience, so this was a massive challenge. "Let's keep them visible" was our main tenet in Q2 2020 into Q2 2021. We needed to be a lot more creative with our PR tactics and quickly learned to pivot our resources to advise on, and sometimes produce, robust digital content. Most of our colleagues know the drill. It's worked well, but it's still not the essence of what we do as PR pros. Media engagement remains the focus of our work. Digital content complements in a controlled way. The hybrid work model has sometimes been a challenge for us, but we have also learned that we can work differently and still be effective. The hybrid work model is still a work in progress, as we still believe that nurturing "social capital" IRL is fundamental to PR excellence.
What are you most proud of as a leader?
Respecting our clients and media, attempting to be kind even when stressed and providing exceptional benefits and incentives for my crew.
