Our Mission
We pioneer landmark media and smart city technology to improve lives in cities.
Since our founding in 2004, OBM has been committed to pursuing a community-oriented model of outdoor media that integrates art, community content, and advertising. OBM has grown by helping to design a better business model for the public, allowing cities to participate directly through public-private partnerships that create recurring revenue to fund community investment and support for the arts, and by recognizing that our work needs to enhance rather than detract from the character of the cities in which we work.
Many of our projects seek to unite signature architecture and art, and OBM regularly partners with leading contemporary artists, architects, and institutions to develop projects that challenge the formal and aesthetic conventions of signage. OBM is the preferred partner of cities seeking to develop durable and recurring revenue streams on city assets, operating signage on and about convention centers, performing arts complexes, parking structures, and in the right-of-way with our smart city kiosk platform, IKE.
We work closely with cities in the creation and reformation of signage code and other land use regulations and are the leading operator of signage in special use “Districts,” including the Atlanta Arts and Entertainment District, Denver Theatre District, in Washington, DC, Boston, and many more.
#OBMArts
Many OBM projects involve working directly with art institutions and increasingly with contemporary artists. OBM has developed a unique funding mechanism to commission public art and has maintained a longstanding commitment to leveraging our platform to share artists’ work and ideas in an extraordinarily accessible and egalitarian way.
Past efforts include:
- Sunset Spectacular
- WallsForACause
- Vote2020
- Nari Ward/Lazarus Beacon
Click below to learn more about our latest initiative #OBMARTS.
#OBMSUPPORTSLOCAL
Local businesses and non-profits are the lifeblood of cities, contributing to the unique sense of place, community fabric, and economic health of our downtowns. We donate airtime to local non-profits in our #OBMSUPPORTSLOCAL initiative. It has served as a rallying cry for all of our community engagement efforts.
National Organizations:
- The Birthday Party Project
- Global Citizen Festival
- Legacy Youth Leadership Foundation
- St. Jude (Thanks & Giving Campaign)
- A Cool Million Foundation
- NAACP National Convention (2023)
- Red Bull Wings for Life (2023)
- National Cherry Blossom Festival
“We’re honored to work alongside a true pioneer in the design & operation of iconic out-of-home media that adds character & value to any urban environment. By visually telling our story to the world and supporting our student programs for underserved communities, our friends at OBM help inspire the next generation of young leaders.”
-Seth Maxwell, Founder & CEO, Legacy Youth Leadership
REGIONAL Organizations:
- Inevitable Foundation
- Find Your Anchor (Please Stay Campaign)
- Portraits of Pride (Boston, MA)
- Stonewall Columbus
- Dress for Success Columbus
- Preforming Arts Houston
- Projects Eats
- A Place at the Table Raleigh
- Urban College of Boston
“Urban College of Boston is a small non-profit college that keeps our overhead low in order to keep our tuition affordable, so this kind of quality exposure so close to our campus is simply amazing. The Orange Barrel team was patient and extraordinary helpful as they produced this wonderful product. To us, this is huge.”
-Michael Taylor, former President, Urban College of Boston
BALTIMORE STRONG
In March 2024, the City of Baltimore and the residents of Maryland faced an unexpected calamity when the historic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, plunging the state into devastation. Search and rescue operations were initiated immediately, alongside planning for the city’s recovery efforts.
At Orange Barrel Media, we recognized the need to stand in solidarity with the people of Maryland during this challenging time. To demonstrate our support, we displayed ‘Maryland Tough, Baltimore Strong’ messages across all of our large-format digital signs and IKEs throughout the city. Our aim was to reassure the community of our presence and commitment throughout this crisis. These displays garnered the attention of Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who expressed their gratitude via social media.
In times of adversity, our signs serve as conduits for unity. We strive to amplify messages that foster community cohesion, especially during moments of hardship.
