Arts & Business Case studies - Scotland

Pufferfish Ltd and School of Informatics: investigating the evolution of intelligent systems... with a PufferSphere - Arts & Business

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:26:41 GMT

The opportunity

The University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics opened a new public art gallery called Inspace which explores the cultural significance of informatics – the study of how natural and artificial systems store, process and communicate information.

This brand new gallery was set up as a space to showcase exceptional, informative and inspiring work and engage, educate and entertain the wider public.

The impact

Edinburgh-based electronic display company, Pufferfish Ltd offered in-kind support which included a discount for the purchase and installation of a PufferSphere – a fully immersive, portable environment in which small groups can view, explore and interact with 3D data and virtual reality models. In addition, the company offered a discount of £10,400 on the cost of specialist consultancy and technical support for the PufferSphere throughout its use during the Inspace 2009/10 arts programme, in particular the exhibitions ‘Are We Human?’ between December 2009 and January 2010, and the Alt-w Festival taking place in August 2010.

In return Pufferfish will be given access to research obtained by the School of Informatics into the ways in which people interact with and behave around the sphere, contributing to its product development. The company will also be given marketing and branding opportunities on the Inspace website and on materials associated with the December 2009 and June 2010 exhibitions.

A New Arts Sponsorship Grant of £13,000 will contribute to the delivery costs of Inspace’s 2009/10 exhibition programme. In return for the grant Inspace is able to offer Pufferfish full credits and branding in marketing and promotional materials produced in relation to both the ‘Are Friends Electric’ and ‘Tell Me Now How Do I Feel’ exhibitions. These benefits will further raise the company’s profile with gallery visitors, Inspace’s 2009/10 research partners (including NASA and the Royal Academy of Engineering), and audiences of Inspace’s project partners, the Edinburgh International Science Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Image: Thea Dymke for Inspace showing Scott Pagano's "The Antikythera Mechanism" running on Pufferfish's sphere

Bibliographic Data Services Ltd (BDS) & The Bakehouse - Arts & Business

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:13:51 GMT

The opportunity

The Bakehouse is an art centre in rural Dumfriesshire with a mission to bring exciting arts and literary events to a region that is hungry for culture. Catching the attention of Conrad Lynch, Executive Director of the world renowned Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, he contacted the Bakehouse to work with them to deliver a three show production of the company’s summer tour of Romeo & Juliet. “We said yes, without having any idea how we could raise the money,” said Chrys Salt, the Bakehouse’s artistic director, “But we knew it was an opportunity not to be missed.”

With this major programming coup in hand, The Bakehouse attracted a cash sponsorship from local data creation company BDS, and a Scottish Government New Arts Sponsorship matching grant from Arts & Business.

Set on the lawns of the Crichton Estate on the River Nith in Dumfries and using the Easterbrook Church as its backdrop, the Globe’s small cast performed outside for three performances in June 2008, in front of a large and enthusiastic audience including 50 of BDS’s key clients from across the UK who also enjoyed a pre-show reception and a post-show dinner with the actors.

The impact

The success of the production significantly increased the profile and reputation of The Bakehouse as an arts organisation of real force in the region and has provided it with a degree of financial security over the year that followed. Over 1200 people attended the performances (the largest audience The Globe had seen on tour) which included 250 students from local schools. Also, The Bakehouse database of people culturally active in its catchment area doubled, while visits to its website increased nearly 200%. The experience has improved the skills, confidence and track record of The Bakehouse in obtaining commercial sponsorship.

The BDS brand, by association with The Globe and The Bakehouse, received a cultural stamp of approval. The event raised the brand profile and offered a platform within which to display the brand to other businesses and individuals within the sector it operates, a sector that broadly deals in cultural products. BDS is now seen as a national player in the provision of data on cultural products. The sponsorship of The Bakehouse and Shakespeare’s Globe were ideal for BDS for it presented ‘culture’ and ‘quality’ while encompassing the national and local.

"The association between BDS and The Bakehouse, which brought Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre to Dumfries, has been a very fruitful partnership. It has proved beneficial not only to all the organisations involved but also to the wider community. All age groups, from students to senior citizens were enthralled both by the excellent production and the idyllic surroundings of the Crichton. It was a wonderful opportunity to see a performance of national status in our home town.

"Since the inaugural performances, BDS has maintained its support of The Globe and The Bakehouse and the now annual visits go from strength to strength in terms of quality and audience numbers as well as business and profile opportunities for BDS".
Lesley Whyte, Managing Director, Bibliographic Data Services Limited

Photos:
Richard Macfarlane, for shots of a record audience attendance at The Globe’s touring production of Romeo and Juliet on the beautiful grounds of The Crichton Campus, Dumfries.
James Erskine for oval Romeo and Juliet promotional shot by James Erskine (Romeo - Alan Morrissey; Juliet - Dominique Bull)

The Puppet Lab & CAT Finning - Arts & Business

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:13:42 GMT

The opportunity

Edinburgh-based Puppet Lab created an 8 meter high giant puppet - the Big Man - which was operated by twelve puppeteers and appeared in Kirkcaldy, Buckie, Invergordon, Inverclyde and the on the Isle of Bute creating fantastic community-inspired street theatre and encouraging audiences to participate in telling the Big Man what it is they love about the area where they live.

Puppet Lab was able to attract in-kind sponsorship from CAT Finning (UK) Ltd, a Staffordshire based supplier of Caterpillar Products - fundamental to the success of the project. The company provided Puppet Lab with a telehandler which would act as a giant puppeteer’s arm in the back of the Big Man to support its weight as it ‘walked’ and allowing the puppet to be manipulated to maximum effect. In the world of street performance, where thousands of people gather to experience an event, cancelling is both costly and embarrassing. With CAT Finning’s national network of service engineers, the show always went on and the machine behaved impeccably.

The impact

Big Man Walking and the CAT telehandler were seen by 60 thousand people across Scotland. The Puppet Lab and CAT Finning partnership enabled expanding resources for community participation projects in two of the most deprived areas in Scotland: Buckie and Invergordon.

Both, CAT Finning and the Puppet Lab received excellent media coverage; they appeared on Blue Peter, The Hour, STV and BBC news and on over 60 local and national newspapers as well as receiving international exposure on the internet. These opportunities significantly increased the profile of the CAT Finning brand, its products and services and raised awareness of the Puppet Lab and puppeteering in Scotland.

Photographers’ credits: Ian Macnicol, Murdo Macleod

Thinktastic & the Edinburgh Military Tattoo - Arts & Business

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:12:26 GMT

The opportunity

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an iconic Scotland event, which takes place each year on the esplanade at Edinburgh Castle as part of Edinburgh’s summer festivals. Musical performances and displays from massed regimental pipes and drums, highland dance displays and band performances from an international cast of military and civilian performers create an unforgettable experience attracting large audiences each year. As part of its programme, the Tattoo offers first class hospitality to a wide range of corporate clients.

In 2009, the Tattoo secured an in-kind sponsorship from Thinktastic, an Edinburgh-based creative agency. Thinktastic provided a free-of-charge creative service in the form of designing the Tattoo communications materials including its corporate hospitality leaflets. In return, the company received advertisement in the printed Souvenir Tattoo programme, logo acknowledgements and hospitality packages.

The impact

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo involving 1000 performers over 25 performances attracted a live audience of over 200 thousand people. The event was seen by 5 million UK TV audiences and over 100 million global TV audiences.
The experience promoted Thinktastic and its services to the Tattoo’s broad corporate audience and increased the profile of the company while enabling the Edinburgh Military Tattoo improve their corporate hospitality offer and network with potential customers.

“ Would you be interested in being an Edinburgh Military Tattoo Sponsor?” The question put to Thinktastic 18 months ago. It took just five seconds to agree. We were right not to hesitate. What’s happened since has exceeded all our expectations – exposure to top decision makes, our brand seen and heard by more than 100,000 people and a corporate hospitality that surpasses any I’ve experienced. “Best corporate hospitality ever.” “Awesome, Spectacular.””...been telling everyone I know in London about it – the best ever.” So said our blue chip guests. What has it meant to Thinktastic? A massive boost to our new brand, our sponsorship attracts match funding from Arts and Business – doubling the immediate benefits. 25,000 visits to our website within three months, business sustained through a hard year and our hospitality guests backing their loyalty to the brand with lucrative contacts. The best investment I have made in years.”
Mike Stevenson, Managing Director, Thinktastic

“The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo would like to thank Thinktastic for their kind sponsorship for our 2009 season. The benefit of working with such a professional company as Thinktastic helped us develop a whole new look to our Corporate Hospitality point of sale which enabled us to sell our corporate hospitality packages in a very difficult financial climate. This sponsorship helped us to achieve our target of being sold out for the eleventh season in a row which we think is a bit of an achievement in these difficult times.

We were also introduced to some of Thinktastic clients who, after having a great time having the “tattoo experience” will become clients of ours in their own right in the future.” Mark Gardner, Sponsorship Development Manager, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The National Theatre of Scotland & The Essentia Group CashBack for Communities Partnership - Arts & Business

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:01:15 GMT

The opportunity

The Scottish Government CashBack for Communities scheme aims to increase the number of businesses sponsoring arts activities that promote inclusion through the arts for young people between the ages of 10 and 19.

A cash sponsorship from the Essentia Group towards the National Theatre of Scotland’s First Nights pilot initiative contributed to engaging 100 disadvantaged young people aged between 14 and 19 in workshops and performances of Peer Gynt in Dundee, Inverness, Edinburgh and Glasgow. The project was delivered between April and May 2009. First Nights events enabled young participants to attend a pre-show practical theatre workshop, see the production of Peer Gynt, meet and chat with the show’cast and have a closer look at the set and the props. Other activities covered included transport to the theatre and back home, a programme, interval refreshments and post-show workshop aiming at discussing participants’ reaction to the show.

In return for its sponsorship, The Essentia Group, a Glasgow-based people technology company, received a range of benefits including branding and marketing opportunities as well as complimentary and discount ticket opportunities allowing key client and staff entertainment around the National Theatre of Scotland’s First Night productions.

Impact

The sponsorship enabled First Nights to become an unforgettable experience for young people and allowed the Essentia Group to increase its brand and profile. The partnership created opportunities for socially disadvantaged young people from all over Scotland to engage with theatre and offered pathways to new experiences encouraging the belief that “theatre is for all”. Participants of the project expressed their views that the workshops allowed them to build their confidence and understand their scope for creativity. Following the success of a pilot initiative of First Nights, the National Theatre of Scotland will create further productions to continue engagement with young people across Scotland’s communities.

“They (participants) were all captivated by the live performance. Now they are all willing to attend other performances – whereas before, they would never have thought theatre had any relevance to their lives”

“The young people felt special and privileged; the whole package of workshops, free refreshments and behind the scenes really helped me to sell the experience to the young people and get them there, and they absolutely loved the whole experience. The thing the young people talked about the most after the event was the interaction with the cast – who were absolutely brilliant. They were blown away by the interactions they had, both after the performance and on the review session.”

Group leaders’ feedback comments

Images: Peer Gynt by Manuel Harlan

Graham's The Family Dairy & Edinburgh International Book Festival - Arts & Business

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:09:44 GMT

The opportunity

The Edinburgh International Book Festival takes place each summer in the world heritage site of Charlotte Square Gardens. The largest literary festival in the world attracts 200,000 people from across the UK and around the world to over 700 unique events.

Graham's The Family Dairy, Scotland’s second largest independent dairy company, celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2009 and as part of its marketing and promotions activity for the year was looking for an opportunity to increase its brand awareness across Scotland. Its cash and in-kind sponsorship of the Book Festival provided it with excellent sponsorship benefits around a high profile children’s author event and a linked ‘on the farm’ workshop where children were able to browse and be inspired by a book produced by Graham’s and sold in aid of the children’s charity CHAS.

The impact

With a matching Scottish Government New Arts Sponsorship Grant the Book Festival was able to promote Graham’s to Major Sponsor level and to offer them a special Graham's The Family Dairy Book Reading event in its party pavilion where it could offer samples of Graham's milk to the audience after lunchtime storytime every day of the Festival. Graham’s received appropriate branding and acknowledgements throughout the Festival, as well as opportunities to distribute branded activity sheets for children in the children’s tent, complimentary tickets for client entertainment, one free use of a hospitality venue and invitations to the press launch and opening party. Through its link with the Festival, Graham’s enhanced the company’s reputation with audiences and clients alike. Thanks to this partnership, the Book Festival was able to augment its children’s programme with relevant, entertaining and educational activities for children and their families. Graham’s also sponsored on pack advertising for the Festival on its milk cartons that helped the festival in reaching out to a wider Scottish audience.

Talisman Energy and Acting Up: A hard-hat act to follow - Arts & Business

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:46:44 GMT

Shortlisted for Prudential A&B People Development Award, 2009

The opportunity

Picture the scene – vital safety briefings being given at the Tool Box Talk each morning, but the guys who need the information most are half asleep. More interested in the bacon rolls to come after the talk, than the content of the briefing, they’d fake listening so they could get themselves out to the canteen soonest. Talisman Energy knew they had a problem. In search of some magic they called Acting Up. “Make it not boring.” they pleaded. “We need charisma in a hard hat! Energy! Engagement! Performance!” All Acting Up had to do was turn these working guys in hard-hats into dynamic speakers and listeners.

The impact

Enter the Ken Loach style cast – the Acting Up puppets. Rugged and real. A rehearsal environment was created within which to see and feel what it is like to be dull, versus dynamic. The participants were allowed to watch the actors, direct them, try it themselves, try it again, and re-direct the actors. Encouraged to be true to their own personality, each participant worked on developing their own brand of dynamism using personality, humour, story-telling, questioning and voice work, translated from the theatre world, into rugged industry. The chance to rehearse these skills resulted in the participants knowing what dull feels like to deliver and what tactics they needed to hold their audience in the palm of their hand.

“Acting Up helped us to transform the way we present our safety information. They gave us a valuable insight into techniques which we have used to make our work force more engaging when imparting important safety messages.” Stewart Fairbairn Senior Health & Safety Advisor, Talisman Energy, UK