Auckland Castle Hires Siegel+Gale and AMV BBDO To Lead Rebrand Initiative

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Lynda Sale, Director of Strategy & Marketing at Auckland Castle, said, "We were looking for a special blend of skills for this unique task. The combination of AMV and Siegel+Gale shone through and we're delighted to be working with them. We are committed to engaging leaders in their specialist fields across all aspects of this project, from world-class architects to internationally significant gallery and museum partnerships and we believe that we have continued to secure the very best in this appointment."

Selected after a competitive pitch, the agencies will work together to breathe new life into the branding and communications for the 900-year-old historic home of England's Prince Bishop and its associated projects.

Part of an ambitious restoration and redevelopment project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Auckland Castle, which currently houses the notable 17^th-century paintings by Spanish artist Francisco de Zurbarán, will include a series of breathtaking new buildings and visitor experiences opening from 2017-2019. The cultural undertaking is set to turn Auckland Castle and Bishop Auckland into a premier visitor destination with new art galleries, a walled garden, a boutique hotel and fine dining restaurant. The initiative will help revive the local economy and create more than 100 jobs.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Auckland Castle
Auckland Castle is one of the most important Episcopal palaces in Europe, and the magnificent home of the Prince Bishops of Durham.

Between 1832 and 2011, the castle was the official residence of the Bishops of Durham, and the Bishop of Durham still works there today. Its Grade I listed architectural structures and features tell the history of a nation, in a building that has been created and recreated over the centuries by some of the leading architects of each age, including James Wyatt, architect to George III.

Auckland Castle is also home to one of the most significant treasures of European religious art. In 1756, the then Bishop of Durham bought 13 paintings by Francisco de Zurbarán (1598-1664), depicting Jacob and his 12 sons, representing the 12 tribes of Israel.

Auckland Castle is located in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

About Auckland Castle Trust
The Auckland Castle Trust was established in the summer of 2012. The castle itself, with its deer park, derelict walled garden and paintings, formed the nucleus of the original holding. Today the project also extends across a collection of buildings within the Bishop Auckland Market Place. The restoration of Auckland Castle will create a major new art and heritage destination in the UK and an important culture-led social economic regeneration initiative for the North East of England. A new gallery presenting the story of Faith in the British Isles from pre-history to modern day will be created and a permanent collection of key works from the Spanish Golden Age will be presented at the Spanish Art Gallery and Research Centre, creating an exhibition programme of genuine international significance.
www.aucklandcastle.org 

About AMV BBDO
AMV BBDO is the UK's largest advertising agency and has been ranked number one agency by Nielsen for the last 18 consecutive years. AMV employs well over 400 people, works across 85 brands and has one simple aim with all of them: to help solve their business challenge with creative ideas that change the competitive landscape. AMV works across all media producing award-winning work in TV, Print, Radio, Experiential and Online.  AMV is part of the BBDO network, the third largest Agency network in the world, with 288 offices across 80 countries. AMV BBDO are currently the Most Awarded Agency at Marketing Society; Most Awarded Agency for Social Strategy at WARC and Creative Agency of the Year at Creative Circle and Creative Review. This year WARC ranked AMV BBDO as the world's most successful creative agency over the past two years in terms of performance at effectiveness and strategy awards. The agency was ranked 32nd in Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For in 2015.

About Siegel+Gale
Siegel+Gale (www.siegelgale.com) is the simplicity company. We seek it, defend it and embrace it in everything we do to help brands reach their true potential. Simplicity is the centrepiece of the strategies we develop that reveal the unique truths of an organisation, the engaging stories we create that connect brands with their audiences and the meaningful experiences we deliver that are both unexpectedly fresh and remarkably clear.

Since 1969, Siegel+Gale has championed simplicity for leading corporations, nonprofits and government organisations worldwide. We have offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Dubai and Shanghai, but we're willing to fly just about anywhere. We're also not alone. As part of the DAS Group of Companies, we have strong partners all around the world.

About the DAS Group of Companies
The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries.

For more information:
Ann Cooper
Head of Communications, Auckland Castle Trust 
T: 44 (0)1388 743 799
E: ann.cooper@aucklandcastle.org 

Nichola Seeley
Senior Marketing and Communications Manager, Siegel+Gale
T: +44 (0)20 8618 1951 
M: +44 (0)77 1091 7186  
E: nseeley@siegelgale.com

Vicky Allard
Communications Director, AMV BBDO
T: +44 (0)203 787 0350
M: +44 (0)7769 937 062
E: allardv@amvbbdo.com

Related Links

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