Banksy stolen – by rival agency staffer
Naked Communications’ Steal Banksy stunt on behalf of Art Series Hotels appears to have come to a premature end with a member of staff from a rival agency completing the heist just four days into what was going to be a month long promotion.
Maura Tuohy, social marketing strategist at Reprise Media, tweeted an image of herself holding the stolen Banksy about an hour ago. Her message said: “They call me Banksy.”
The Steal Banksy promotion – which had been due to run until January 15 – only began on Thursday. However, Naked has hinted that there is more of the promotion yet to come.
Customers were challenged to steal the $15,000 art piece No Ball Games by the British artist as it hung on the wall at one of three Art Series hotels in Melbourne. The rules of the game stated that if somebody was caught removing it, they had to put it back.
However, the stunt had already generated strong PR for the brand. On smh.com.au today, Amy Cooper tries and fails to steal the work.
At the time of posting, Tuohy was understood to be in a client social media training session. Earlier today, when one person asked her on Twitter how she got the Bansky, she replied: “mad skillz and social media sleuthing! Like taking candy from a baby really!!!”
She also posted: “take that Naked!”
Naked’s founding partner Adam Ferrier confirmed to Mumbrella: “It has been stolen. She did it in an incredibly sophisticated, systematic, organised manner. We congratulate her.
‘Obviously we’ve planned for this and you’ll see what’s happening next later today.”
1.30pm update: Tuohy told Mumbrella: “We thought it was an absolutely brilliant activation by Naked.”
Tuohy told Mumbrella that she worked with colleague Megan Aney (pictured) to pull off the heist.
3.30pm update: The Arts Series has revealed more details of how Tuohy pulled off her coup:
“The theft was carried out in classic art crook style – right under our noses.
“Maura Tuohy checked into the hotel on Saturday night pretending to be from an Art Series Hotel agency. She claimed she worked with various members of the agency team and told hotel staff that she was asked to drive the painting to another hotel… Tuohy provided the number of her accomplice. Megan Aney, who verified the story.”
Reprise is the sister search agency to UM and Initiative. In 2010, Tuohy was Australia’s representative in the Young Lions media category at Cannes:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=dXrW9lAxIbc
The hotel has now put another Banksy work on display.
A new Banksy is now up for grabs instead.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
Linkedin
Do you want to check the spelling in this article? Come on – you’re better than this Tim!!
User ID not verified.
BAM!!!!
User ID not verified.
Can’t forget her counterpart Megan Aney. Word on the street is their solution to this problem was pretty simple.
User ID not verified.
Well done two the troublesome two.
We’ll expect a spot on the wall to be prepared immediately.
/y0z
User ID not verified.
Promotuion? =)
Congratulations Maura Tuohy – we’ll call you Banksy!
User ID not verified.
I win a competition almost exactly the same as this every time I stay in a hotel.
No mad social media skillz required………..
User ID not verified.
Well done Maura, love how you announced you were going to steal it on Twitter and followed through – well played.
User ID not verified.
I would be curious to know if this actually has happened or is it all part of the, dare I say it, strategy. Buy some column space. etc etc.
User ID not verified.
Whoa. I didnt realise that they really stole it. Thats Awesome! Well done!
User ID not verified.
LOVE your work ladies.Lets sell it and run away to Bora Bora for Xmas!
User ID not verified.
Why is it that the spelling Nazis are always first in?
User ID not verified.
Hi all would be thieves check out http://www.stealbanksy.com.au for an update on what’s happening.
@stealbanksy
User ID not verified.
Why celebrate stealing a fake though?
User ID not verified.