Mud Mile is now part of Story Sellers Group. Car Wash Partner?
Omaha Central Library
Telling the Story Behind a World-Class Public Art Collection in Omaha's Newest Library
45+
hours of raw footage
17
completed short films
short-form vignettes
32
At a Glance
The new Omaha Central Library features the most significant collection of local art in the community. Ahead of the library’s highly anticipated opening, Story Sellers Group moved quickly to produce wide-ranging content that shares the stories behind this impressive collection.
A Major Investment in Public Art
Omaha’s new Central Library is a transformative civic investment that will serve the community for generations. From the beginning, art was central to the project. Central Library partners committed 1% of the construction budget to public art, commissioning 16 local artists to create original works for the library.
As the collection took shape, project partners saw an opportunity to give the public a more immersive way to experience the artwork. They needed a media partner who could bring the stories behind the work to life. That’s where we came in.
The Story Behind the Art
Working with Heritage Omaha, Amplify Arts, and the Omaha Public Library, we moved quickly to plan, film, and produce digital content ahead of the library’s opening. Over one week in mid-January, our team traveled across the region, quickly setting up professional film sets in artists’ homes and studios to capture them where they create.
We came ready with thoughtful questions about their work, processes, and personal connection to libraries. More importantly, we created a space where artists felt comfortable opening up to us. From those interviews, we were able to tell stories that honored both the artist and their work.
A High-Volume Project With High Standards
As a team of former journalists, we work best on a tight deadline. Just a few short weeks after filming, we had already delivered an expansive set of content:
- 17 completed short films, including 16 artist profiles and one overview film about the call for public art
- 16 audio-only files with visual descriptions of the artwork for wider accessibility
- 32 short-form vignettes for social media and additional visibility
- Professional headshots of each artist
- More than 45 hours of raw footage that partners can use for future content and promotion
It was a heavy lift with dozens of assets, multiple formats, accessibility components, and a firm deadline. We delivered it all without compromising our creative standards, delivering artistic, cinematic short films to match the quality of the collection.
Great Artwork Worthy of Great Storytelling
This project had a lot of moving parts, and we met the challenge head-on. We delivered every asset ahead of a public art unveiling in March, which gave artists and supporters the opportunity to experience the work at the level it deserved.
Before the unveiling, we also uploaded all videos to Bloomberg Connects, a free app that allows patrons to take a digital tour of Central Library’s public art collection. Accessible to all, it will give library visitors a way to connect with the artwork — and the talented artists who created it — for years to come.
The Omaha Central Library contains a stunning collection of world-class art. Now, it has the storytelling to match.
