Lexus is to be the exclusive channel sponsor of Sky Arts, the UK’s only dedicated Arts channel. The partnership will support a creative community that has experienced a challenging time throughout the pandemic and will reinforce Lexus’s connection to craft whilst celebrating the brand’s Japanese heritage and raise awareness of its design-led credentials.
The partnership with Sky Media features 15- and 5-second cutdown versions of a Lexus documentary on the Japanese concept known as takumi, which will run as the sponsorship ident for Sky Arts across linear and VOD. The partnership launches on 1st April 2021 and runs until 30 September 2022. It was identified and negotiated by m/SIX, The&Partnership’s media agency.
In Japan, a person is not considered a takumi master craftsperson until they have spent at least 60,000 hours refining their skills. Lexus takumi craftspeople oversee the making of every car and dedicate years to mastering their skills and refining their work to achieve perfection. The Lexus brand’s association with design and craftsmanship extends beyond its luxury cars and includes initiatives such as Lexus Design Awards, which supports up-and-coming design talent who create products designed for a better tomorrow.
In addition to the takumi idents, the partnership will include further experiential activity from Lexus throughout 2021 and 2022, which will be dedicated to the arts community and promoted across the Lexus and Sky Arts social channels. Lexus has also committed to working with Sky Arts on ad-funded programming to be broadcast during the eighteen-month partnership.
Kevin Ledgar, General Manager, Marketing and Strategy for Lexus UK said, “We have many common values with Sky Arts and are pleased to be supporting the arts community at such a critical time through this partnership. Design and craftsmanship are at the heart of the Lexus brand, so this is a great opportunity for us to bring to life our vision of creativity and our passion for the creative community, making the arts more accessible for all.”
Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts and Ents said, “In 2020, as the arts community struggled, Sky Arts opened our doors to become free to everyone. Since then, we’ve continued to further our support of the cultural sector, showcasing the very best of theatre, music and the visual arts along with supporting emerging artists through our Ambassador scheme. We are thrilled to have Lexus as the channel sponsor, with its design and craftsmanship heritage, to amplify the Sky Arts mission to connect with creative minds and nurture the next generation of artists.”
Sarah Jones, Director of Planning at Sky Media said, “Lexus is a proud supporter of the creative community, making this the perfect fit for the first long-term partnership since Sky Arts became free for everyone. At Sky Media, we know that aligning brands with their audience’s passion points drives stronger affinity. So, we’re excited about the opportunity to activate this partnership with Lexus both on- and off-screen – driving a deeper connection between the visionary automotive brand and an audience keen to engage with a range of creative disciplines spanning design, craft, music, theatre, dance, comedy and visual arts.”
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