Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Philadelphia Museum of Art Restores Historic Name, Keeps New Griffin Logo

A unanimous board vote followed a task force review finding internal stakeholders opposed the renaming, with public feedback favoring the griffin identity.

Overview

  • The board voted unanimously on Feb. 4 to revert to the name Philadelphia Museum of Art and discontinue the PhAM moniker and visitpham digital handles.
  • The museum will retain and adapt the October griffin logo and visual system, updating the wordmark to the restored name and dialing back informal taglines.
  • URL, email, and social accounts will transition back to philamuseum in the coming weeks, and the institution will again use PMA as its shorthand.
  • Leadership said surveys showed staff, trustees, and members rejected the name change, while broader public response was positive toward the griffin and overall look.
  • The October rebrand cost about $1 million; the change-back is projected at under $50,000 with materials phased out rather than discarded, as new director Daniel H. Weiss implements process fixes following CMO Paul Dien’s Feb. 1 departure and as Sasha Suda’s lawsuit proceeds in arbitration.