CHICAGO.- MindShare has been awarded media planning and buying responsibilities for the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the world's leading encyclopedic museums. MindShare was one of four Chicago agencies vying for the business and was selected following a review. The goal of the review was to choose a local agency that could deliver strong media recommendations and provide efficiencies to leverage the museum's deep permanent collection, world-renowned exhibitions program and educational outreach.

"MindShare shares our strong passion for the arts, and we're thrilled to welcome the agency as our partner in helping to make visual arts a vital part of the lives of Chicagoans," said Carrie Heinonen, Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs, Art Institute of Chicago.

"The Art Institute of Chicago is a local landmark and a cultural icon, and we're excited that this prestigious institution has selected MindShare as its media agency. We look forward to working with the museum to deliver unique media programs that reflect its artistic and inspirational nature," Scott Neslund, Managing Director, MindShare Chicago.

Previously, media responsibilities were handled by LaPlaca Cohen in New York. The transition is effective immediately.

MindShare is a global media investment management company with billings in excess of $21.5 billion (source: RECMA). The network consists of 96 offices in 66 countries throughout the USA, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific. MindShare is a member of WPP, one of the world's leading communications services groups.