It is increasingly difficult to ignore the fact that the UK is in the grips of a crisis of creativity. From the lack of investment or value placed in creative pursuits in school to the deficit of arts funding; artists and students alike are facing up to an increasingly bleak economic reality.

Of course it would be naïve to look to brands to fill this gap but the fact remains that their role as patrons and champions of arts and artists is increasingly vital. This is why Ballentine’s latest campaign in its Artist series is such compelling and welcome viewing.

The pitch perfect spot, created by Leagas Delaney perfectly encapsulates the brand’s Time Well Spent ethos with a collaboration between Brooklyn artists Scott Albrecht and Leagas Delaney’s in-house content division.

The campaign includes a beautifully designed bottle and packaging, which was launched in South Korea. The limited-edition 17-year old prestige Scotch whisky will be launched across the globe on New Year’s Day.

The campaign captures Albrecht’s workshop in Brooklyn, his basketball court in New Rochelle, and several areas around New York that he uses for inspiration in his work. The artist has created murals throughout the city, including a design at the Brooklyn Ferry Terminal. For this collaboration, Albrecht also designed a bespoke wooden piece ‘A Shared History’ that blends Ballantine’s brand colours with his own signature palette.

Pernod Ricard wrote the rule book for successful brand and artist collaborations through its Absolut vodka brand. With this latest work for Ballantine’s the drinks giant has shown its commitment to the arts, with work that will successfully attract the next generation of whisky drinkers. While Albrecht, who combines abstract typography with vibrant colour, has the opportunity to inspire and empower a whole new swathe of artists.