Cabaret Voltaire: Zurich's Being Sold

Credits:

Type of Entry: Sectors & Services
Category: Media, Arts and Entertainment
Title: ZURICH'S BEING SOLD
Advertiser/Client: CABARET VOLTAIRE
Product/Service: CABARET
Entrant Company: SPILLMANN/FELSER/LEO BURNETT Zurich, SWITZERLAND
PR/Advertising Agency: SPILLMANN/FELSER/LEO BURNETT Zurich, SWITZERLAND
Creative Credits
Name Company Position
Martin Spillmann Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett Executive Creative Director
Martin Spillmann Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett Creative Director
Patrick Dubach Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett Copywriter
Reto Clement Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett Art Direction
Pam Hügli Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett Account Director
Details
Describe the campaign/entry:
Zurich’s Cabaret Voltaire (est. 1916) needed to win the September 28 - 2008 ballot for a continuation of their subsidized credit of CHF 945,000 - by Zurich city taxpayers. Our strategy was to take the central thought of Dadaism to the streets. Since with Dadaism everything is art - we took just that and made everything art, declaring everyday objects regardless if it being a park bench, a public phone booth, a public toilet or a trashcan as art. And so said we made everything art, declaring everyday objects as art objects. The objects where auctioned and sold over www.alles-ist-kunst.ch. The objects were marked with a big red sold sticker, declaring them as, as sold artwork. Shortly before the election we cleared up the teaser by freezing the sales and stating - stop with the cultural clearance and selling-out of the city - vote for Cabaret Voltaire. The campaign resulted in more than 13,000 visitors online at www.alles-ist-kunst.ch, over 400 sold objects and a ballot won; with 65% Yes votes for Cabaret Voltaire, the birth place of Dadaism.
Describe the brief from the client:
The aim was to create a campaign to ensure that Cabaret Voltaire would win the ballot and secure their subsidy, which would ensure the existence of Cabaret Voltaire Zurich.
Results:
The campaign resulted in more than 13,000 visitors online at www.alles-ist-kunst.ch, over 400 sold objects and a ballot won with 65% Yes votes for Cabaret Voltaire, the birth place of Dadaism.
Execution:
The everyday objects which were declared as art were auctioned and sold over www.alles-ist-kunst.ch. The objects got marked with big red sold stickers, declaring them as, as sold artwork. Shortly before the election we cleared up the teaser by freezing the sales and stating “stop with the cultural clearance and selling-out of the city - vote for Cabaret Voltaire”.
The Situation:
How do you familiarize the general public with such an abstract art form like Dadaism (a type form of art and literature), ensure their sympathy for Zurich’s Cabaret Voltaire (est. 1916) and also win the September 28 2008 ballot for a continuation of their subsidized credit of CHF 945,000- by Zurich city taxpayers.
The Strategy:
Our strategy was to carry out the central thought of Dadaism and take it to the streets: everything is art. And so said, we made everything art, declaring everyday objects as art objects.