MEET RUTH

Relevance Strategist | Arts Champion

Hi, I’m Ruth!

Currently Chief of Staff at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, I previously spent almost two decades in the arts sector as an opera singer, choral director, and music educator.

Meeting world-renowned business thinker Clayton Christensen and learning his frameworks completely changed my perspective on how to grow arts audiences.

Now, drawing on 23 years of experience in the cultural and nonprofit sectors—plus seven years’ immersion in innovation frameworks at the Clayton Christensen Institute—I help arts organizations rethink arts marketing through a customer-centric lens.

My perspective has been shaped by a unique journey:

  • I grew up in blue-collar rural Maine

  • I learned how to convince teenagers to love choral music (no easy feat!)

  • I trained and performed as an opera singer, where I also regularly engaged with donors and opera patrons

  • I help manage the inner workings of a nonprofit, and

  • I’ve been immersed in the research of a Harvard Business School professor and world-renowned business thinker

With this unique viewpoint, I’m able to both understand and advocate for a wide range of stakeholders in the arts industry—while bringing interdisciplinary insights and fresh perspectives to the arts sector.

My mission: Help the arts reclaim their relevance

Ready? Your roadmap starts here.

  • "Ruth has an extraordinary vision for arts marketing, and the arts sector needs it now."

    —Mark Schaefer, Author of Marketing Rebellion and Belonging to the Brand

  • "For any org wanting to center their customer and community, Ruth's thinking on this topic is hands down the best I've ever seen."

    —Aubrey Bergauer, Changing the Narrative

  • “Ruth is a champion for your patrons. She sets aside all of the expertise and just asks one simple question: What matters to your customers? It's revolutionary.”

    —Sean Kelly, Founder, Vatic

  • "This may well be the salvation that audience-hungry arts marketers are searching for."

    —Trevor O’Donnell, Author of Marketing the Arts to Death

  • "...an incredible thought leader. Ruth's insight is what we need to hear as a sector right now. "

    —Sarah Weber, Executive Director, Association of California Symphony Orchestras

  • “Ruth is a breath of fresh air. She cuts through traditional jargon and bias to focus on solid, practical solutions. Her commitment to a patron-first approach empowers managers across all departments to drive real results.”

    —Drew McManus, CEO, UpStage Technologies

  • "If you don't yet follow Ruth Hartt, drop everything and follow. A superhero in all things marketing and perspectives!"

    —Holly Mulcahy, Concertmaster, Wichita Symphony and founder, Arts Capacty

  • “This is one of the most, if not the most, important presentations in my life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

    —Thomas Cooke, President, Voce

  • "So grateful that Ruth is not only putting the Jobs to Be Done framework out there, but also providing illustrations on how to enact it."

    —Timothy Myers, Music Director, Austin Opera and Music Director, Spoleto Festival USA

  • “The room was vibrating during Ruth’s Chorus America plenary...lightbulbs were going off, pens were furiously writing.”

    —Alex Gartner, Artistic & Executive Director, Pensacola Children’s Chorus

  • “Thank you for delivering two remarkable presentations. Your work is transformative!”

    —Kevin Eberle-Noel, Executive Director, Redlands Symphony

  • "Your presentation was truly exceptional."

    —Donny Thompson, Executive director, Jazz Outreach Initiative

  • "You were spectacular and opened up a host of necessary questions with which we need to grapple. It was a terrific session."

    —Nick Adams, Executive Director, Cantata Singers

  • "Ruth was an amazing speaker and was incredibly well received."

    —Maggie Plaster, Director of Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Affairs, City of Las Vegas