Chichester Cathedral: Mars

Project Overview

We were brought on to lead the PR and marketing campaign for the arrival of Luke Jerram’s Mars installation at Chichester Cathedral—a visually stunning and thought-provoking artwork that brings the surface of Mars to life inside a sacred space.

Our goal was to create buzz, drive visitor footfall, and support the Cathedral’s ambition to engage new and returning audiences across West Sussex and beyond.

Objectives

  • Generate regional press coverage and community awareness
  • Promote the exhibition to diverse audiences including culture seekers, families, and local residents
  • Position Chichester Cathedral as a dynamic cultural venue
  • Support footfall and engagement with a calendar of events and family activities

Our Strategy & Approach

Regional PR

We secured widespread regional media coverage through carefully targeted press outreach, interviews with the Cathedral team and artist, and press invites to the installation’s preview night.

Social Media Activation

We developed a content calendar and ran paid and organic campaigns across Instagram and Facebook to build momentum pre-launch and sustain awareness throughout the exhibition run. Content included time-lapses, behind-the-scenes set-up, visitor quotes, and stories featuring families and creatives interacting with the work.

Editorial-Led Blogs

We wrote and published a series of editorial-led blog posts that explored the science, symbolism, and significance of Mars in both artistic and religious contexts—positioning the Cathedral as both a place of reflection and innovation.

Partnerships & Local Collaboration

We worked with local businesses and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) to create joint campaigns and amplify reach. Highlights included:

  • A space themed family trail in the city centre to drive footfall to local businesses and the Mars installation. Included celestial window displays created by local school children.
  • A themed Mars milkshake at a local family-friendly eatery
  • Multiple competitions offering Mars-themed prizes in partnership with local retailers and visitor attractions

Influencer Engagement

We invited a curated list of family bloggers, regional content creators, and cultural influencers to attend preview events and share authentic, high-quality content with their followers—resulting in strong organic reach and engagement across platforms.

Results

  • 25+ pieces of regional coverage, including Sussex World, Chichester Observer, Sussex Life, BBC South, BBC Sussex and V2 Radio
  • Regional influencers engaged, resulting in over 50,000 combined organic impressions
  • Strong footfall throughout the exhibition, with increased attendance from target groups
  • Increase in social media engagements across campaign content
  • Boost in visitor numbers to supporting events such as Mars-themed talks and workshops