Starting DMPUBLIC, Canada’s Only PR Agency Dedicated to Arts & Culture

“There are so many amazing things that happen in art and culture, but how we share it between ourselves is different from how it is shared in mainstream media.” – Deanne Moser

For people who don’t know, tell us what you do?

I am the founder of DMPUBLIC, which I started in 2015. DMPUBLIC is Canada’s only PR agency that focuses on arts and culture.

What made you want to do what you do? 

I was working in PR for over 15 years and 6 of which had been in art. I wanted to create this company because I found that there was a gap in the industry. I found that in press releases, artist statements were so heavily art focussed to the point where they were missing out on what people really wanted to hear; why now, what it is, what makes it important, where we can see it, etc. With my background in understanding how the art world and media landscape work, I took on the role of merging these two worlds, which is something that is not done in Canada. For example, I am able to take an exhibition and highlight what the artist thinks is important.

What advice would you give to someone looking to break into the industry you’re in?

The best people in PR and art don’t necessarily come from big art schools or PR programs. There are so many self-trained people out there. So find an area of interest that you like and really focus on the industry or passion and figure out what players are involved. For artists that are trying to break into the art world, go out to galleries and make yourself known. Start to actually be a part of the fabric of that industry. The same thing goes for PR. 

What is your mission in your career? 

My goal is to help promote Canadian artists within Canada and abroad. I mostly work in fine visual arts and with musicians. More specifically, I work with anyone from individual artists, to galleries, to institutions, to festivals. I can work 1 on 1 with a painter, with the gallery that sells their work, then with the museum that hosts their exhibitions. I tend to work with artists that have something to say and have a point of view, which is something that’s important to me. 

What would you tell your teenage self, if you were to meet them today? 

Small town dreams do come true! I was born on a farm in Saskatchewan and raised in a small Albertan town with no culture in or around it, so I had to go on a quest to find it. 

What, if any adversities did you have to conquer, and what do you attribute your success to? 

The pandemic killed all arts and culture because you can’t get the same exeprience online. I saw musicians struggling because they hadn’t played a set in a year. It was hard because we weren’t able to give the artists any hope since we had no idea when everything would go back to normal. We went from having a good roster of clients to losing a lot of them in 6 weeks. We tried to conduct artist tours and festivals over Zoom, but of course none of it was the same. 

Tell us a secret about your job. 

Many people may not think this, but art parties can actually be some of the wildest parties you will ever attend! So many people think the art world is stuffy and stuck up but it’s not, it can be fun and wild. 

Anything exciting coming up? Please plug a project

There’s so many exciting things coming up! I am looking forward to a piano installation at the Harbor Front on September 11th and Art Toronto in October, which will be in-person and have a virtual hybrid model. 

How can we get connected? Where can we learn more about you / connect with you / your social channels?

Check out their website dmpublic.ca or follow @deannemoser on Instagram.