The Next Original

A contest that changed lives

Solutions

Brand Development & Creative Services

UI/UX Design & Digital Development

Stakeholder Engagement & Loyalty

Project Management & Procurement

One of the most unique pieces of The Kessler Collection story is the art, specifically, how Richard Kessler travels the world and invests in undiscovered talent. With his gift, he has launched careers, inspired new artists and hundreds of thousands of hotel guests with his passion. We believed this story should get a lot more attention. So leading up to New Year’s Eve, we hosted an art contest called, The Next Original. The winner would get their art hung in Times Square for more than one billion people to see when the ball drops.

We created a campaign that included on-property touch points, social media assets, a landing page and a Time Square ad that called all artists to submit their favorite work.

More than 1,800 artists sent their work to be considered. Richard Kessler and his Art Gallery Directors personally reviewed every submission, and were blown away.

Ten people were chosen as finalists and were flown to Savannah, to Kessler’s Savannah property, The JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District, for an expenses paid stay, judging ceremony and winner celebration.

Much to their surprise, Richard Kessler chose all of them. Their artwork rotated in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, for over one million people to see live and over one billion people who tuned in. Since then, the winner’s art has been sold in Kessler Collection Galleries across the East Coast.

Arizona State University /ASU Prep Values Journey

MetroNational /Honoring a family legacy, building for the future and creating places to gather, connect and make memories.

The Next Original /A contest that changed lives.

Coca-Cola Consolidated /Putting purpose in every bottle by enabling a team of people who live to serve others.

The Kessler Collection /Building belief and delivering the art of extraordinary from the inside out.

Mastercard /Driving purpose, engagement and connection for a global company.

ASU Prep Digital /Equipping educators to prepare more than 400,000 students around the world for college, careers and life.

ABM /Helping 140,000 people belong.

Plant Riverside District /Bringing Savannah’s Entertainment District to life.