Sparking a Membership Renaissance for The Renaissance Society
“Cuseum has been an absolute 10 out of 10 throughout the entire implementation!” — Polina Kanassian, The Renaissance Society
The Renaissance Society: At a Glance
The Renaissance Society is a nonprofit institution dedicated to presenting new commissions and carefully developed exhibitions. Based at the University of Chicago, it provides free access to contemporary art and ongoing cultural dialogue.
Through its programs, talks, and publications, the Ren gives visitors simple, meaningful ways to connect with artists and their work. It serves as a steady point of access to the ideas shaping today's artistic landscape.
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Attendance: 50,000+ / year
- Members: ≈1,000+
- Founded: 1915
Overview
The Renaissance Society is known for its close, collaborative work with artists, often supporting them from the earliest stages of a project through final exhibition. Many shows are newly commissioned, giving artists the time, space, and freedom to take risks and develop ambitious ideas.
For visitors, The Renaissance Society's approach to engagement emphasizes openness and exploration. Through recordings, digital materials, and thoughtfully produced publications, audiences can learn about each project from multiple points of entry. Interpretation isn't prescribed; instead, visitors are encouraged to move through the work in ways that feel self-directed.
Modernizing Membership Communication with Ease
The Renaissance Society needed a membership engagement system that could be implemented quickly and remain dependable through a steady flow of exhibitions, programs, and publications.
With limited staff time, the priority was finding a platform that was easy to learn, intuitive to navigate, and stable across all devices, ensuring members could access their benefits without confusion.
Cuseum's Digital Membership solution met these needs. The system's clear, user-friendly design allowed staff to update benefits, event links, and member information in seconds, without additional training or technical assistance.
Members received a consistent, reliable experience that kept everything they needed organized in one simple digital card, making engagement smoother for everyone.
The Challenge
How to find a membership system that is robust, easy to use, and evolves with ever-changing needs and expectations?
- Frequent program updates created ongoing administrative work. With exhibitions, events, and publications shifting throughout the year, staff had to repeatedly update member information and communications, often manually.
- Traditional tools weren't flexible enough. Static memberships made it difficult to reflect new programs or adjust details quickly. Even small changes required extra steps that slowed down operations.
- Members needed clear, convenient access to current information. Without a single intuitive interface, members often relied on staff for guidance, leading to bottlenecks during busy exhibition periods.
Why Cuseum?
Designed to meet the needs of cultural institutions of every shape and size.
- Cuseum enables the museum to quickly and dynamically share updates, directly on a digital card that's easy for anyone to use.
- Behind the scenes, Cuseum syncs smoothly with the museum's existing membership databases, cutting down on repeated tasks and helping staff stay focused on the work that counts.
- As the calendar of events and general needs change, Cuseum's solution offers a steady, responsive system without added layers of technology or unnecessary effort.
Digital Membership Cards Made Simple
- Quick and easy installation
- Intuitive member experience
- Instant updates anytime
A Better Experience for Members
Cuseum enhanced how the Renaissance Society delivers value and valuable info to members, elevating the organization's overall audience experience.
- Digital cards centralized all membership information, dramatically reducing routine questions from members.
- Dynamic updates made events and other programs more discoverable, leading to increased attendance and stronger member participation in talks.
- Feedback from supporters highlighted the ease of the new system, reinforcing the museum's commitment to audience-friendly offerings.
Testimonial
I would probably highlight how simple everything was! Our members were onboard faster than expected.
— Polina Kanassian, Associate Director of Major Gifts & Individual Giving, The Renaissance Society