British Art Show 9

British Art Show 9
Campaign assets for one of the most significant art exhibitions produced in the UK
Light Installations, Environmental Interventions

The British Art Show is one of the most significant art exhibitions produced in the UK as well as an ambitious collaborative project, representing the most advanced model of touring for the visual arts. Established in 1979, the exhibition tours to four cities across the UK every five years, encompassing a wide geographical spread and new locations at each manifestation. The exhibition is a landmark event for the visual arts, defining current tendencies and directions in contemporary art and introducing a new generation of artists to a wide public.

We were commissioned to deliver the marketing campaign for the Plymouth leg of the touring exhibition through the use of print, digital, animation, wayfinding and a public realm light installation. The campaign had to encourage as many people as possible to experience BAS9 in Plymouth, while reaching new and diverse audiences, in particular those not currently engaged with contemporary visual art. 

We created a double page newspaper spread, where the reader could tear away and complete a slip that gave them the chance to document their thoughts on the exhbition. These were then collated and posted onto a wall of ideas in a bid to challenge preconceptions and attitudes towards contemporary art, while acting as an archive for the exhibition's legacy. 

As well as digital, print and animated campaign assets we also designed and co-produced the first in a series of light installations commissioned in the city centre in a project led by Plymouth Culture, in partnership with Plymouth City Council and funded by Historic England through the Heritage Action Zone programme. The message reads: “What Will You Make Of It?” and was developed as part of the marketing campaign for the British Art Show 9.

The light-powered artwork was designed to breathe new life into spaces and buildings – creating everyday cultural encounters for those who see it, helping to engage newer audiences into the work of BAS9 and representing the rebirth of the popular Civic Centre building and the area that surrounds it, symbolising a of hope for the future that also highlights the heritage of the past.

To ensure exhibition goers could get around from venue to venue we created sustainably produced floor vinyls that acted as gorilla style wayfinding throughout the event. These were vital in ensuring people could visit all four exhibition venues, while making sure no damage was done or waste left behind once removed.

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