Case study: Running public arts events, campaigns and communications
Client: The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail Trust
What we did
We have worked with the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail Trust since 2015 on a wide range of projects, events and marketing for the eclectic sculpture trail. Our work has included campaign planning, event management, content creation, PR, social media, film production and website support.
The challenge
Close to our hearts, The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, launched in 1986, is a treasured local attraction with a mix of sculptures across a 4.5 mile trail. A few of its original pieces remain but it has also been regularly added to and developed over the years. The trust who run the trail needed marketing support to:
- Launch new pieces
- Celebrate the milestone 30th anniversary
- Promote pop-up art events
- Plan and execute ongoing campaigns
Our strategy
We developed tailored strategies for each project, focusing on storytelling, community engagement and multimedia content. By highlighting the trail’s heritage and artistic innovation, we ensured each campaign resonated with both local audiences and visitors. Key elements included planning around key events, leveraging social media, producing visual content and coordinating PR.
A Sense of Place
Place – known locally as The Giant’s Chair – was a much-loved sculpture on the trail, commissioned and installed in 1986. By 2015 it was deemed unsafe and in need of removal. We were brought in to assist with a commemoration project called ‘A Sense of Place’. We helped put together the below film featuring interviews with people involved in its installation and some of those it touched, the history of the piece and the plans for its future as well as stunning aerial photography of the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail. We sourced the filmmaker and worked alongside them to produce a film which spoke respectfully of the heritage and local connection of the piece, which had seen generations of local families connect with it.
It was finally felled on 20th October 2015, 29 years after it was installed. We also helped with a range of events and marketing after Place was decommissioned including encouraging artists to repurpose the charcoal. We supported the launch of new sculptures like Charcoal Measure (which used charcoal from Place) and Sentient Forest in 2016.
30th anniversary
We supported the trust with a range of celebratory events in 2016 including an event on the trail itself with some of the original sculptors and organisers and a guided walk to some of the new pieces. We sourced local beer, took photos, supported the team and managed press coverage.
Rainbow Forest
A pop-up art event bringing the colours of the rainbow into the woods, merging sculpture with den making, Rainbow Forest was a huge amount of fun to help organise. We spent two days in the woods painting branches and then ran a launch resulting in this lovely film (below). Secured coverage in local media including on the day. The branches were painted with eco-friendly paint from Earthborn Paints (read their write-up here) and lasted much longer than we expected, being seen for years to come.
Content and communications
Created social media content, press materials and website content for a range of sculpture launches and events.
The results
- Successfully commemorated key sculptures and supported new installations
- Engaged local community, artists and visitors through events and campaigns
- Generated media coverage and increased awareness of the trail
- Built lasting relationships with artists, audiences and local stakeholders
What they said about working with us
Alex is a real gem. She did a wonderful job in sensitively handling public enquiries, assisted with social media and press communications, created a beautiful webpage for us and her research also contributed to a special film we made. She went above and beyond what was asked of her, volunteering her time to help the smooth running of events. She works quickly and always delivers. Her fees were always carefully itemised as to how much time she spent working on each task and always reasonably priced.
Cathy Mager, The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust