Chichester Cathedral wins Marketing Campaign of the Year for Chichester950
Awarded at the Cultural Enterprises Awards for landmark 950th anniversary campaign delivered with BrightWord PR
Chichester Cathedral has been awarded Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Cultural Enterprises Awards for its ambitious and transformative Chichester950 anniversary campaign, delivered in partnership with Sussex-based agency BrightWord PR.
The Cultural Enterprises Awards recognise excellence and innovation across the UKs cultural and heritage sectors, celebrating organisations that demonstrate outstanding achievement in areas including marketing, commercial enterprise, visitor engagement and income generation.
Running from February to November 2025, Chichester950 marked the Cathedrals 950th anniversary with a year-long programme of exhibitions, concerts, community projects and city-wide collaborations. The campaign reaffirmed the Cathedrals' role as a living centre of faith, heritage and culture, while engaging new and younger audiences.
Headline moments included the Religion, Rebellion & Reformation exhibition; Together in Unity, a sold-out anniversary concert celebrating the legacy of Leonard Bernstein; and the launch of community celebration TrinityFest on the Green. The grand finale was the sold-out Luxmuralis Light Experience, which saw the historic building transformed with an immersive display of light, sound and colour.
Another key element of the anniversary was partnership working across the city and region. Collaborations with Chichester Business Improvement District (BID), Pallant House Gallery, Chichester Cinema, Goodwood Racecourse, Oxmarket Contemporary and Chichester College - among many others, enabled this to be a shared celebration across the city, district and diocese.
The anniversary also accelerated fundraising momentum. During the campaign, £950,000 in match funding was announced to support the Cathedrals music endowment, securing the future of its internationally respected musical heritage.
Importantly, throughout the anniversary year, the Cathedral remained free to enter - one of the few UK cathedrals maintaining free daily admission - ensuring accessibility remained central to its mission.
The judges praised the campaigns strategic clarity, creative ambition and measurable impact, recognising Chichester950 as a benchmark for marketing in the culture and heritage sector.
Oliver Tubb, Head of Marketing & Visitor Experience for Chichester Cathedral said:
Winning Marketing Campaign of the Year is a tremendous honour and a testament to the dedication of our staff, volunteers and partners. Chichester950 was about celebrating 950 years of faith, heritage and community - and this award recognises the collective effort that made it such a success.
Rachel Soothill, Founder of BrightWord PR added:
We are incredibly proud to see Chichester950 recognised at the Cultural Enterprises Awards. This was a bold, strategic and collaborative campaign, and the results show what can be achieved when creative storytelling is paired with strong partnerships.
