Customer-centric insights for arts leaders

Known for masterfully blending powerful perspective shifts with actionable insights, Ruth brings a unique background as artist, educator, and nonprofit administrator to her work as a relevance strategist for arts organizations.

Bringing business innovation to the arts sector

Ruth is on a mission to revolutionize audience development through the lens of customer centricity. She bridges the worlds of business innovation and the arts, helping leaders rethink the status quo to unlock growth.

Drawing on six years’ immersion in innovation frameworks from the for-profit world, Ruth leverages interdisciplinary insights to champion the arts, foster inclusivity, and drive positive, relevant change.

She’s consistently ranked a top speaker at industry conferences:

  • “The room was vibrating during Ruth’s Chorus America plenary...lightbulbs were going off, pens were furiously writing.”

    —Alex Gartner, Artistic & Executive Director, Pensacola Children’s Chorus

  • “This is one of the most, if not the most, important presentations in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

    —Tom Cooke, President, Voce

  • “Blown away by this presentation and Ruth's expertise. Her analysis of the shrinking audience and its effect on the industry is spot-on and the approach to bringing in outsiders is refreshing and overdue.”

    —Participant, Las Vegas Arts & Culture Summit

  • “Thank you for delivering two remarkable presentations. Your work is transformative!”

    —Kevin Eberle-Noel, Executive Director, Redlands Symphony

  • "Your presentation was truly exceptional."

    —Donny Thompson, Executive director, Jazz Outreach Initiative

  • "Ruth was an amazing speaker and was incredibly well received."

    —Maggie Plaster, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Las Vegas

  • "I've watched a number of webinars since 2020 and Ruth's is the best by far!"

    —Webinar Participant, Association of California Symphony Orchestras

  • "You were spectacular and opened up a host of necessary questions with which we need to grapple. It was a terrific session."

    —Nick Adams, Executive Director, Cantata Singers

  • "Ruth is an incredible thought leader. Her insight into how arts orgs can connect to the outsiders and center the needs of their communities is what we need to hear as a sector right now. "

    —Sarah Weber, Executive Director, Association of California Symphony Orchestras

  • "Ruth Hartt has an extraordinary vision for arts marketing, and the arts sector needs it now."

    —Mark Schaefer, Author of Marketing Rebellion

  • "For any org wanting to center their customer and community, Ruth's thinking on this topic is hands down the best I've ever seen."

    —Aubrey Bergauer, Changing the Narrative

  • "This may well be the salvation that audience-hungry arts marketers are searching for."

    —Trevor O’Donnell, Author of Marketing the Arts to Death

  • "If you don't yet follow Ruth Hartt, drop everything and follow. A superhero in all things marketing and perspectives!"

    —Holly Mulcahy, Concertmaster, Wichita Symphony

  • "So grateful that Ruth is not only putting the Jobs to Be Done framework out there, but also providing illustrations on how to enact it."

    —Timothy Myers, Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Austin Opera

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