Licensing agency Lisa Marks Associates has been appointed by the Smithsonian Institution to develop a consumer products program in the key food and beverage and health and beauty categories. This licensing program will reflect the Smithsonian's celebration of culture, heritage and the beauty of the natural world and will parallel current macro trends in the market.

“The Smithsonian Institution is in a category by itself, and we are thrilled to work with this phenomenal world class organization,” says Lisa Marks, president, Lisa Marks Associates. “LMA is committed to sharing the Smithsonian’s vision of engagement, cultural exploration and inspiration by developing meaningful long-term, strategic partnerships that will amplify the well-established values of the Smithsonian in the core food and personal care sectors.”

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum and research education complex, comprising 19 museums and galleries of art and culture, the National Zoo and multiple research facilities. For more than 170 years, the Smithsonian has been dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, discovery, learning and storytelling, providing multiple lenses through which to explore the human experience. A portion of the proceeds from every Smithsonian licensed product goes to support the Smithsonian’s educational mission.

The food and beverage program will focus on food, meals and dining concepts and integrations that adhere to principles of sustainable and ethical food sourcing, social responsibility and environmentally friendly production and packaging. The Smithsonian health and beauty category will take inspiration from Smithsonian’s collections, like the colors of gems, geodes and minerals of the natural world.