The Creative Advocacy Network (CAN) is a broad coalition of arts organizations, businesses, government, and individuals with a mission to create a strong voice in support of the arts in order to strengthen the regional arts ecology and to change how the arts are funded in the tri-county region.

Specifically, CAN needs to gain support to pass a $20 million levy that will be distributed among many arts organizations (like The Right Brain Initiative) and guarantee the continued progress of the arts in Portland and the tri-county area.

CAN asked NORTH to create a brand identity for the program to help focus their efforts on a single message that Portlanders could identify with over the coming months leading up to the vote.

NORTH began an exploration based on the insights that arts are the lifeblood of our region and a necessity, not a luxury. From these insights came the brand platform: Food. Shelter. Art. and the CANifesto proclaiming that in the Portland area, the arts are as vital as food and shelter.

Visit theartscan.org to read the CANifesto, see the impactful design provided by MakeLike and learn what you can do to keep the arts alive and well in our region.

Ever wonder who’s behind message board monikers? See for yourself in NORTH’s new Regence TV campaign featuring members helping members take charge of their health via myRegence.com.

Specifically, the spots show various community members coming together on a metaphorical message board to give weight loss support, put family stress into perspective and fight the nicotine monkey.

Directed, edited and scored by NORTH, the Regence campaign is part of a larger branding effort that includes the Health eCards site.

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Bravely Done from NORTH on Vimeo.

With hearts and passions aflame, we dashed over to the Wonder Ballroom last night for the launch of Sam’s campaign.

First reassuring sign was the line of Sam Fans already gathered to get in. Clearly a lot of enlightened cyclists (parking is challenging in that part of town.)

Once we’d fought our way through the wall of Sam Volunteers, we made ourselves comfortable in the bar and waved the neighborhood placards we’d been given (randomly, we were representing Columbia East and Rose City Park although none of us live in either place.)

The fabulous Poison Waters hosted. The video debuted without a hitch and garnered enough applause to make us believe that it had worked. And the lovely Sam made an impassioned and compelling speech based on the Alisdair Gray quote “Work as if you were living in the early days of a better nation” - the main hook in the video. Truly inspiring and a firm justification of our confidence in Sam’s beliefs and his ability to get things done.

We’re with Sam.

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