Philadelphia Museum Reverts to Iconic Name, Griffin Logo Stays
In a surprising U-turn, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has announced that it will return to its long-held name, rather than the short-lived "Art Museum" moniker introduced just months ago. The decision comes after a contentious period marked by turmoil and a high-profile lawsuit filed by former executive director Sasha Suda.
According to officials, the board of trustees made the unanimous decision to revert to the original name following a comprehensive survey of staff, members, and the public, which was conducted at a cost of $1 million. The museum has also vowed to maintain its new griffin logo, adopted during the rebranding process, as a symbol of its rich history.
"We recognize that our brand is an essential part of who we are," said Daniel Weiss, director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "The new logo, with the griffin, has been well-received by the public, and returning to the name that resonates with staff, trustees, and members is a gesture of inclusivity."
While the cost of reverting back to its original name is expected to be minimal – around $50,000 – officials acknowledge that this move represents a subtle yet significant departure from the tumultuous period under Suda's leadership.
The rebrand was introduced in October as part of efforts to make the museum more accessible and welcoming for tourists visiting Philadelphia to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. However, the change was met with resistance from some quarters, with many already referring to the institution by its long-held name.
Suda, who had been a driving force behind the rebranding process, filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the museum in November, alleging that her termination was orchestrated by a faction of the board intent on preserving the status quo. The case is ongoing, with Suda seeking damages and injunctive relief.
The board has maintained its innocence, claiming that Suda's salary increase without approval led to her firing. However, Suda disputes this narrative, arguing that the museum's actions were motivated by a desire to silence her.
As the Philadelphia Museum of Art moves forward, officials plan to incrementally transition brand materials back to their original format over the coming weeks, scrapping the PhAM acronym introduced during the rebranding process. The decision marks a quiet yet significant shift towards returning to a sense of stability and continuity at one of America's most revered cultural institutions.
In a surprising U-turn, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has announced that it will return to its long-held name, rather than the short-lived "Art Museum" moniker introduced just months ago. The decision comes after a contentious period marked by turmoil and a high-profile lawsuit filed by former executive director Sasha Suda.
According to officials, the board of trustees made the unanimous decision to revert to the original name following a comprehensive survey of staff, members, and the public, which was conducted at a cost of $1 million. The museum has also vowed to maintain its new griffin logo, adopted during the rebranding process, as a symbol of its rich history.
"We recognize that our brand is an essential part of who we are," said Daniel Weiss, director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "The new logo, with the griffin, has been well-received by the public, and returning to the name that resonates with staff, trustees, and members is a gesture of inclusivity."
While the cost of reverting back to its original name is expected to be minimal – around $50,000 – officials acknowledge that this move represents a subtle yet significant departure from the tumultuous period under Suda's leadership.
The rebrand was introduced in October as part of efforts to make the museum more accessible and welcoming for tourists visiting Philadelphia to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. However, the change was met with resistance from some quarters, with many already referring to the institution by its long-held name.
Suda, who had been a driving force behind the rebranding process, filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the museum in November, alleging that her termination was orchestrated by a faction of the board intent on preserving the status quo. The case is ongoing, with Suda seeking damages and injunctive relief.
The board has maintained its innocence, claiming that Suda's salary increase without approval led to her firing. However, Suda disputes this narrative, arguing that the museum's actions were motivated by a desire to silence her.
As the Philadelphia Museum of Art moves forward, officials plan to incrementally transition brand materials back to their original format over the coming weeks, scrapping the PhAM acronym introduced during the rebranding process. The decision marks a quiet yet significant shift towards returning to a sense of stability and continuity at one of America's most revered cultural institutions.
. I mean, the whole "Art Museum" thing was just so...new. And now it's back to being the Philly Museum of Art, like nothing ever happened 
. The griffin logo is still cool tho, I guess that's a win 
. It's funny how some things never change, but others do 
. I remember when I was a kid and my parents would take me to the museum, we'd run up those famous steps like a million times 
. Now I can just imagine myself doing the same thing with my own kids one day 
.
but idk maybe it was worth it if its gonna make staff & members happy. still dont get why sasha suda filed a lawsuit over her firing tho, guess she got played by the board 
anyway, glad they're keeping the griffin logo tho, it's so iconic and dope 
. I mean, who knew a rebrand would stir up so much drama? 
Like, what even happened with that? It's all so juicy... and kinda sad too 
. I guess the museum learned a valuable lesson about listening to their staff and members before making any big changes 
. But hey, at least they're being transparent about it and acknowledging the mistakes 
. And can we talk about how much I love that griffin logo? 
. All things considered, I think this whole ordeal might've been for the best 
i mean i get it ppl like change but some changes feel forced & that new logo was kinda meh anyway glad they're goin back 2 the classic griffin logo tho, iconic! 
can't we just have a smooth transition for once?
And that lawsuit, ugh, it's just so dramatic. I feel bad for Sasha Suda, but at the same time, I get why they had to make the change. It's not like it was a huge deal or anything... until people started freaking out and suing them. 
And can we talk about how expensive that survey was? $1 million? Come on! 
.
). All in all, I'm just glad this ordeal is over and the museum can get back to being its awesome self again. Here's to stability and consistency 
So the museum is reverting back to its old name after all that drama? I mean, I get it, some people didn't like the new "Art Museum" moniker... but $1 million for a survey that basically confirms what we already knew? 
. I mean, the logo with the griffin is pretty cool too 
.
...anyway glad the museum is gettin back on track 
. dont know about the logo tho 
i was so confused when it first happened like what's going on lol anyway, i think its kinda cool that they listened to the staff & public who were like "hey, we love the original name" 
dan weiss seems like a super down-to-earth guy too 
btw have u seen the new griffin logo? 
. It's always funny how rebranding can go from being all hip and modern to just being a reminder that some things are better left alone 
.
anyway, i feel bad for sasha suda though she seemed like a strong leader who got caught in the middle of things. its not cool that the board had to deal with her drama and now its affecting the museum's rep 
I think it's about time they went back to the original name, tbh. I mean, who needs some fancy new logo when you've got history on your side? 
It's not like it was a bad name or anything... 
. And $1 million is a pretty penny for a survey 
. Still, I guess some people were just missing the old vibe 
. Guess it's all about pleasing the masses 
.