We recently connected with Mary M. Thames and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Thank you so much for having me! Goodness, what a question to start with. I suppose I’ve always known? I remember having a conversation in college where we were discussing what we would do if it weren’t arts – and I said “there’s nothing else.” To me, it’s always been art.

Which art has changed – when I was five I wanted to be a painter, when I was twelve I wanted to be a writer, when I was eighteen I wanted to be a stage manager, when I was twenty-two I wanted to be a director. I could never have predicted the path I’m on now, but I wouldn’t change any part of it.

Hi Mary, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a prime example of the theatre kid to marketing expert pipeline!

Joking aside, I have a pretty varied arts background. My undergraduate degree is in theatre directing, and I also hold a graduate degree in arts administration. Outside of the theatre I am a creative writer, an artist, and a musician (flute, piccolo, guitar, ukulele).

I love arts marketing because it allows me to use all of my different talents and skills. I started my business, Thames Royal Media, as a way to provide quality, affordable digital marketing services to arts, culture, and nonprofit organizations. It’s incredibly rewarding to get to work so closely with so many amazing arts organizations through my work.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely – I want arts nonprofits to leverage all of the digital marketing tools available to them in order to better accomplish their missions. Most arts organizations have websites – oftentimes they are outdated, but they still have some sort of web presence. But many of them don’t utilize email marketing or social media marketing in order to connect more directly with their audiences. They simply threw up a website in the early 00s, and then wonder why their audience numbers are dwindling.

It’s frustrating to me, as a person who loves the arts, to see these organizations get left behind when there are so many tools available to them – they just need someone on their team who knows how to use them. That’s where I come in.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I am beyond blessed to get to work with the most amazing nonprofit clients. To get to be a part of their missions – even in a small way – is so rewarding.

Specifically, I am delighted when a client tells me that the work I have done has made a positive impact on their work. Whether that’s in saving the team time so that they can focus on their programming, or bringing new patrons to the organization through my work in brand awareness. The effects of my efforts make a tangible difference to my clients’ operations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thamesroyalmedia.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thamesroyal/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thamesroyal
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymthames/

Image Credits
Thames Royal Media