After a successful initial partnership in 2022, Brisbane Portrait Prize (BPP) engaged BBS as its communication and public relations partner again in 2023 and 2024 with the goal of driving audience engagement and attendance at BPP events, while simultaneously promoting the Prize as a prestigious competition worthy of involvement for premier artists.

BBS established a nine-month long proactive media campaign, with intensity building throughout to the final winner announcements. The campaign focused on Southeast Queensland media for audience attraction for the finalist’s exhibition, and both local and interstate media for growing awareness and interest in the Prize among artists and the public, with the long-term goal of establishing the BPP as a highly esteemed event in the arts and culture world.

Leveraging BBS’ media relationships and those of key BPP personnel, we cultivated a diverse range of stories showcasing artists – entrants, finalists and ultimately winners – as well as the judges associated with the 2023 Prize. The resulting media coverage highlighted the benefits of entering the BPP, gave further profile to the Prize as well as to both established and emerging artists, as well as reinforce the importance of the event in capturing Brisbane’s community and cultural stories through portraiture.

Media coverage appearing in general media like Brisbane Times, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, ArtsHub, InQLD and ABC Radio – as well as local and regional media telling local stories of local artists and subjects, and coverage across social media including Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok. This all helped to build the position of BPP as a prestigious Prize, that has its roots within, and tell stories of, the community in which it lives.

By the end of the campaign, BBS secured more than $6.6 million in media coverage and an audience reach of more than 70 million.