Empire Marketing Board

The Empire Marketing Board was a British Government Department set up in May 1926 in order to encourage the British public to buy Empire products, and thus foster closer Imperial economic relations. Prominent within its activities were the poster campaigns directed by Frank Pick, vice-chairman of the London Passenger Transport Board (1933-40) and a passionate advocate of the poster as a medium for information and advertising. Over and above post campaigns the EMB organised exhibitions, 'Empire Shopping Weeks', Empire shops, lectures, radio talks, schools tour, had its own library and arguably its most famous offshoot was EMB film unit which in a comparatively short space of time made over 100 films. Led by John Grierson it is considered the forerunner of the modern film documentary. The film unit was moved to GPO, and during World War II was reorganised into the Crown Film Unit. The EMB was abolished in September 1933. During its short history, it published 800 different designs, principally posters for hoardings or for shop window displays.

Artists who produced work for the Board included Clifford Ellis, Frank Newbould, McKnight Kauffer, Fred Taylor, Dora Batty, Guy Kortright, Spencer Pryce, F, Gregory Brown and Charles Pears.