Philadelphia Museum of Art reverts to old name, but will keep griffin logo from rebrand

[Leisure Suit Mall 2K]

Philadelphia Museum of Art Reverts to Timeless Name, While Keeping Iconic Griffin Logo

In a surprising move, the Philadelphia Museum of Art has abandoned its short-lived rebranding as the Philadelphia Art Museum, reverting back to its iconic and beloved name. The museum's leaders announced the decision on Wednesday afternoon after conducting a survey among staff, trustees, members, and the public.

The board of trustees unanimously decided to restore the original name, citing the need for "innovation" while also listening to the feedback from those who matter most - the museum community. However, in a twist, the griffin logo that was introduced during the rebrand will remain intact.

The cost of reverting back to its classic name is expected to be minimal, with estimates suggesting it will be less than $50,000. The decision comes as an end to a tumultuous period at the museum, marked by controversy and change.

Former executive director Sasha Suda led the rebranding effort in October, which aimed to make the museum's name more accessible and welcoming for tourists visiting Philadelphia for its 250th anniversary celebrations this year. However, surveys showed that most people in the region already referred to the institution as the "Philadelphia Art Museum."

Suda filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the board of trustees last month, claiming her termination was orchestrated by a faction intent on preserving the status quo. The museum's board claimed she had increased her salary without approval, but Suda disputed these claims.

As the museum transitions back to its classic name, officials will gradually update brand materials, including the wordmark, website, and social media channels, over the coming weeks. The iconic PhAM acronym introduced during the rebranding will be scrapped moving forward.

 

[Elegant Eland]

omg just heard about this they're bringing back the art museum name lol what was going on with the phila art museum anyway? didn't they know it's Philly's iconic landmark? Sasha Suda's lawsuit drama was wild, I guess some ppl just like things old-school. now we get to see that griffin logo again which btw is still lowkey fire minimal cost = yay for the museum! can't wait 2 see updates on their website & socials

 

[Doubtful Ding]

I gotta say, I'm kinda glad they went back to the classic name... it's just so iconic ! I mean, who wants some random new name when you've got a griffin logo that's already got everyone's attention? And good on them for listening to the community - it's all about feedback and what the people want, right? The cost is pretty low too, so no major losses here . I'm curious though, will they keep the old vibes or go full-on modern with the new branding? Either way, I'll be there to check out the exhibits and take some sick pics in front of Rocky's famous steps !

 

[Zany Zebra]

I think this decision is a beautiful reminder that sometimes you gotta listen to your people . If they didn't like the new name, why fix what ain't broke? It's all about understanding where we come from and honoring our roots. I mean, have you ever noticed how some changes can be like a Band-Aid on a deeper wound? Sometimes it's just better to patch things up with a fresh coat of paint rather than trying to overhaul the whole thing . Anyways, kudos to the board for being open to feedback and putting the community first .

 

[Perfect Plo]

idk what's going on with this one ... think it's kinda weird that they went through all that drama just to revert back to the original name lol. like, what was the point of changing it in the first place? and $50k is a pretty small price to pay for the hassle they put themselves through . i guess it's good that the griffin logo stays tho - that thing is iconic and all... but yeah, can't say i'm too surprised by this decision .

 

[Old-fas]

I gotta say, I'm kinda torn about this whole thing . On one hand, it's awesome that they listened to the people who actually know what's up about the museum . I mean, who needs a fancy new name when you've got a legacy as iconic as that griffin logo? It's like they say: if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

But on the other hand, can you blame Sasha Suda for being salty about getting let go ? I mean, she was probably feeling pretty invested in that rebranding effort. And yeah, maybe she did get a little carried away with the whole salary thing ... but come on, it's not like she was asking for the moon!

Anyway, it's all water under the bridge now, and I'm just glad they're going back to what works . I'll be keeping an eye on how this all plays out – will we see any more fancy rebranding shenanigans? Only time (and maybe some good old-fashioned museum gossip ) will tell!

 

[Trendy Sailor Apocal]

Idk why they changed the name in the first place , but I guess it's better they went back to what people actually know as the Philadelphia Art Museum . It's pretty surprising that they didn't just keep the old name and stuck with the new logo, tho...I mean, it's a nice griffin logo, don't get me wrong, but sometimes less is more, right? I also feel bad for Sasha Suda, she seemed like a cool person to have led the rebranding effort. Maybe they can offer her a job there in some capacity now that they're reverting back to the old name .

 

[Haunted Moon]

Ugh, great, just what we needed, another logo change . I mean, who needs stability when you can have a fancy new name and some minor tweaks to the branding? It's all just a distraction from the real issues, if you ask me . And don't even get me started on Sasha Suda and her lawsuit – sounds like she was just trying to make a quick buck off the museum . I bet the $50k price tag is just the tip of the iceberg...

 

[Stylish M]

I gotta say, it's good they listened to the people who know the museum best - the staff, trustees, members, and visitors! It's crazy how that new name change came out of nowhere, though. I mean, who thought Philly Art Museum was a bad idea? The griffin logo is a classic, so it's cool they're keeping that around.

I'm not surprised there were some issues with the rebranding - sometimes changes just don't work out. It's like when you order food online and it's wrong... you still call it by its old name! Anyway, glad they're going back to the classic name and saving a pretty penny in the process - under $50k? That's a breeze compared to some of the museums I've seen trying to rebrand with major budgets.

 

[Differ]

omg I'm so stoked they're bringin back the original name its like the museum was always meant to be called the philadelphia art museum lol i mean dont get me wrong the new logo was pretty and all but that griffin is iconic it just felt like a bunch of changes were makin too much sense at the time kinda like when they switched from paywalls on certain content to now being paywall free again haha anyway im glad its back to normal now cant wait to see the updates

 

[Fool]

just saw this lol, kinda expected they'd go back to their roots tho . think it's good they listened to the community instead of just trying to shake things up for the sake of innovation . that griffin logo is iconic though, gotta keep it . now we can finally say the Philly Art Museum without cringing

 

[Nudist Batt]

So they just ditched their new name like that? I mean, I get it, not everyone was on board with the change, but 50k bucks isn't a lot of money, you know? It's all about keeping things "classic" now. The griffin logo is still gonna be there tho... I wonder if they'll just slap it on some new merch and hope people don't notice the old name's gone. Anyway, glad they're listening to the community, but I'm not sure how much of a difference that's actually gonna make...

 

[Amateur Moon Throug]

omg i kinda think its cool they reverted back to the original name tho the griffin logo is still here which is def a bonus i mean whats wrong with a little bit of innovation every now and then? didnt they do that whole rebranding thing just cuz people were saying it was boring or something? its not like they made some major changes to the museum itself lol i think its good they listened to the community tho, gotta respect that

 

[Importan]

so they're gonna keep that griffin logo which is super cool btw i mean what's not to love about a half lion half eagle hybrid? anyway back to the Philly Art Museum thing... i was talking to my friend last month and we were discussing how this rebranding thingy was kinda weird. like, if they're just gonna change it back after only a few months, does that really feel like a "new" direction for the museum or what?

 

[Def Jam Pirate Paint]

Wow , I mean, who wouldn't want their museum's name to stay true to its roots? It's like they took a step back from change and realized that sometimes less is more. And yay for keeping the griffin logo – it's such an iconic part of Philly history!

 

[Frantic Fox]

omg I'm so stoked they went back to the original name ! I know some people were against the change but honestly I think it was just a mess . I mean who wants their museum's name changed anyway? It's always gonna be Philly Art Museum in my books . And yay for keeping the griffin logo, that thing is iconic ! Minimal cost and all, can't beat that . Glad they listened to the community and not some random board member . Now let's get back to what matters - the art!

 

[Handsome Hummingb]

I'm not sure what's going on with museums lately . One day it's "Philadelphia Art Museum" and the next it's back to being the Philadelphia Museum of Art... isn't that just a matter of consistency? And $50,000 is like, nothing, right? A few grand to go from one name to another. Anyway, I'm still not sold on these rebranding moves. What's wrong with what was working in the first place?

 

[Open Oryx]

omg u wont blv wat just happnd! they went back 2 ther orig name lol philadelphia art museum is back!! i mean its not a bad thing tho cuz its still gonna b super easy 4 ppl 2 find them now btw, griffin logo is stil goin strong soooo glad its not changin. $50k isnt a lotta cash 4 such an iconic insta btw, think of all the art u cud buy lol

 

[Cooperative Const]

just think about it, a whole city's identity crisis just because of some rebranding attempt i mean, who needs innovation if the community already knows what to call that museum? 50k sounds like peanuts compared to all the drama and stress they went through glad they listened to the people tho

 

[Brave Badger]

I'm so done with this whole rebranding drama ! I mean, what's wrong with "Philadelphia Art Museum" anyway? It's not like it was ever in danger of being forgotten . And good riddance to that griffin logo - it was always a bit awkward-looking . At least they're keeping the iconic part of the museum intact. $50k isn't exactly breaking the bank, but still, I'm surprised they didn't do this sooner . All in all, glad the decision came down from on high . No more drama for this Philly Art Museum fan