Maison Pan Strategy

Competitive Positioning

Positioning matrix • Advantages • Gaps to fill

Executive Summary

Marie's positionPractitioner-founder with multi-year, multi-city track record
Direct competitors1 (HY-res — solo founder, France-based)
Key differentiatorBeirut + London dual footprint, French-Lebanese cultural bridge
Unfair advantageShe has done it — multiple times — and people are already asking

Positioning Matrix

X axis = how focused on residency programs specifically (vs. broad creative services). Y axis = who they serve (artists directly vs. organizations commercially). The green zone — high residency specialization + organization-serving — is the opportunity. Only HY-res occupies it today.

The arrow shows Maison Pan's strategic move: keep the deep residency specialization, pivot from serving artists directly to serving organizations commercially. The green zone is nearly empty — only HY-res is there.

Maison Pan Today

What It Is

Independent artist-run space dedicated to artistic exchange and growth. Driven by passion, friendship, and artistic exploration.

  • Beirut: Artist residency within Lebanon's cultural landscape (2 studios, opened May 2023)
  • London: Artist studios + 400 sq ft project space (available for rent)
  • Programming: Exhibitions, open studios, workshops, collaborative projects
  • Disciplines: Sculpture, painting, photography, multi-medium

What It's Not (Yet)

Maison Pan currently operates as an artist-run residency — not a consultancy. But the demand signal is clear: individuals and companies are already asking Marie whether she can do it for them.

The core asset is Marie's know-how — the operational, curatorial, and community-building expertise she's developed over several years running Maison Pan across two cities. See how to package it.

Competitive Landscape — Direct

Marie / Maison Pan

Maison Pan Consultancy (proposed)

Beirut + London • French-Lebanese founder

Strengths:

  • Multi-year practitioner track record (not theoretical)
  • Dual Beirut + London footprint — rare cultural bridge
  • Parsons-educated, French-Lebanese identity
  • Already running two operational spaces
  • Inbound demand (people are asking unprompted)
  • Deep network in Middle East + European art scenes

Gaps to address:

  • No packaged service offering yet → Proposed tiers
  • No case studies written up as client-facing material
  • No pricing structure → Proposed pricing
  • Brand is artist-facing, not yet B2B-facing
Only Direct Competitor

HY-res

France • Solo founder

Similarities:

  • Solo founder who built their own residency first
  • France-based
  • Full-service: planning, artist sourcing, programming, marketing
  • Built credibility through personal story (12M+ viral views)

Differences:

  • Focused on property transformation (failed hotel → creative space)
  • Hospitality-first positioning (occupancy, revenue)
  • European focus only
  • No Middle East presence

Competitive Landscape — Adjacent

These firms are not direct competitors but could expand into residency consulting. Understanding them helps Marie position clearly.

CategoryWhat They Do WellWhy They're Not a Threat (Yet)
Creative Placemaking
MASSIVart, NINE dot ARTS
Large-scale art integration for real estate. Deep developer relationships. Big budgets. Residency programs are a minor add-on, not their core. They don't understand the artist-community dynamic that makes a residency live.
Hospitality Art Consulting
KBAA, Artelier, ArtLink
Art procurement for hotels. Established client relationships with major hotel brands. They buy and install art. A residency is a living program — community, programming, artist development. Different skill set entirely.
Nonprofit Intermediaries
Shunpike, ACA
Administering corporate programs (Amazon, etc.). Deep nonprofit expertise. Mission-driven, not commercial. Slow. Can't serve luxury/hospitality clients who want speed and polish.

Marie's Unfair Advantages

1. She's Done It — Repeatedly

Most consultants advise from theory. Marie built and operates two spaces in two countries. She knows what works because she lives it daily. This is irreplaceable credibility.

2. Inbound Demand Already Exists

People are asking her unprompted. This is the strongest possible market signal — she doesn't need to create demand, only to capture and serve it.

3. Cultural Bridge

French-Lebanese, Parsons-educated, operating in Beirut and London. She bridges Middle Eastern and European art scenes — a unique position that no competitor occupies.

4. Artist-First Credibility

She IS an artist running a space for artists. This authenticity is what hotels and brands want but can't buy from a consulting firm. It's the difference between a sommelier and a wine distributor.

Sources

  1. Maison Pan website
  2. HY-res — Hybrid Hospitality & Artist Residency Consultancy
  3. MASSIVart — 5,000+ artist collaborations
  4. NINE dot ARTS — art consulting and creative placemaking
  5. Kevin Barry Art Advisory (KBAA)
  6. Shunpike nonprofit — administers Amazon AIR program