Arthouse Campaign
Freelance
Arthouse in Chester is a cosy café that brings together good coffee, food, and creativity in a way that feels really local. They wanted to find a way to engage more with the community, especially the creative scene, but weren’t sure where to start. That’s where I stepped in, helping them develop a campaign in collaboration with students from the University of Chester’s Kingsway Campus, known for its strong focus on art and design.
How a Weekend-Long Exhibition with a Local Art University Benefits Them
I worked with Arthouse to create the idea of a weekend-long exhibition featuring student work from the Kingsway Campus. It gave the café a way to connect with both the students and the local community while offering something new for their customers. The exhibition highlighted the incredible talent coming out of Kingsway while giving Arthouse a fresh and creative way to draw people in. It was a simple but effective way to bridge the café with Chester’s vibrant arts scene.
Exhibition Details
During the day, Arthouse operated as its usual coffee café, but in the evenings, it transformed into more of a gallery space. Additional artwork was displayed, creating a relaxed yet creative atmosphere for visitors to enjoy. Some of the students from Kingsway Campus also took the opportunity to talk about their work, giving insight into their creative process. On Friday evening, there was a 30-minute session, and on Saturday, two more sessions were held, each lasting 30 minutes. It added a personal touch to the exhibition and gave the students valuable experience presenting their work to an audience.
Custom Coffee Cups
The special print coffee cups, featuring simple paint strokes, tie into the campaign by reflecting the creative theme of the exhibition. They serve as a subtle nod to the art-focused collaboration with Kingsway Campus, reinforcing Arthouse’s connection to the local creative community. The cups add a touch of artistry to everyday coffee, seamlessly linking the café’s brand to the weekend event.
Campaign Posters
These posters play a key role in promoting the exhibition by combining visually striking coffee-themed artwork with clear messaging. The painted imagery immediately draws attention and ties into the artistic focus of the event, making it clear that this is more than just a typical café experience. Headlines like "Coffee & Creativity" and "Brewing Inspiration" emphasise the fusion of art and Arthouse’s café setting, creating an enticing and approachable tone. The inclusion of event details, such as Friday evening and all day Saturday, ensures that potential visitors know when and where to attend, making the exhibition accessible and easy to plan for.
By blending elements of coffee and art, the posters reinforce the theme of the campaign and align with Arthouse’s identity as a creative space. They appeal to both regular customers and art enthusiasts, bridging the gap between the café’s usual offerings and the exhibition’s unique experience. The consistent use of visuals and messaging across the posters creates a cohesive campaign, making the event memorable and enticing for the Chester community. These posters don’t just advertise the exhibition—they capture its atmosphere and invite people to be a part of it.
My Involvement in the Campaign
Arthouse approached me with a simple idea—they wanted to connect with the local community, but they weren’t quite sure how to make it happen. After chatting through their goals, I suggested hosting a weekend art exhibition. It felt like the perfect way to tie in their identity as a creative café while bringing in some fresh energy. I reached out to Kingsway Campus, my old stomping ground, and pitched the idea to their Visual Arts department. The response was great—the students were excited about the chance to show off their work in a public space, and we quickly got to work.
For the posters, I worked closely with the students. I art-directed the designs, coming up with the idea of painted coffee cups to reflect the creative vibe of both the café and the event. The students painted the imagery, while I guided the overall look and made sure everything came together seamlessly. Once the posters were done, I prepared them for print and got them distributed around Chester to spread the word about the event.
The exhibition weekend was a huge success. In the evenings, the café turned into a gallery, with the students’ work on display and even short talks from some of the artists about their pieces. While I couldn’t make it to the event myself, the feedback was amazing—Arthouse had a great turnout, the students loved the experience, and the café really felt like the heart of Chester’s creative scene for the weekend. It was a project I’m proud to have been a part of.