Chicago is going crazy over the Bears upcoming trip to the Super Bowl. Even I, fan of the other kind of football, found myself watching the game in a sports bar last Sunday.
Now some of Chicago’s arts organizations have contributed to the Bears Fever raging through the city. First, the Lyric Opera of Chicago posted a brilliant YouTube video of Bryan Griffin, in full Russian costume for Die Fledermaus, singing “Bear Down, Chicago Bears.”
Second, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is offering a free download of its 1986 recording of “Bear Down, Chicago Bears” with the CSO, the Chorus and Sir Georg Solti conducting. And a banner, rooting for the Bears hangs from Orchestra Hall’s façade.
Third, the Art Institute of Chicago is donning their lions with some oversized Bears helmets, something they also did in 1986. In 2005, when the Chicago White Sox went to the World Series, the lions were wearing Sox hats.
Dutch native Marc van Bree is an analytical marketing communications professional with more than 8 years of experience strategically managing campaigns—on and offline—in a rapidly changing media environment. 
Communications is storytelling. Telling your organization's story consists of many different ingredients across a wide variety of media—from crafting messaging to optimizing your e-mail marketing. 
Organizations are dipping their toes in the social media pool, but do not have the strategy in place to effectively use the many tools at their disposal. Achieve the organizational buy-in you need, build your infrastructure, and leverage social technologies to engage your audience. 
The very definition of cultural participation has changed in a world with endless technological possibilities. The smart marketer will apply insights into patron behaviors to build your audience.
I love how they couldn’t fit the helmets on at first! I wonder how long they struggled in the cold before they went back to the blackboard?