Mr. Robert Lynch

Powerful and Surprising Arts and Business Partnerships: Enriching Workplaces and Communities Nationwide

Posted by Mr. Robert Lynch, Oct 22, 2015 1 comment


Mr. Robert Lynch

Imagine that you are arriving to a job interview at a tech company. As you wait, you take a look around you, and notice beautiful, thought-provoking works of art displayed on the walls, plus sculptures in the public and outdoor spaces. Imagine working for a manufacturing firm, when one day you receive an announcement of an exciting new art contest for employees. Or, attending your national insurance firm's annual meeting, knowing that you'll soon be able to take the stage for a company-wide battle of the bands and sing and perform your heart out. In these three examples, you would actually be at Microsoft, Ford, or Aetna, respectively, but in reality it could be any one of thousands of businesses that are harnessing the power of the arts...because it is good for business.

You may be more likely to seek out companies like this for employment, or stay with a company for years because of various employee development opportunities through the arts. Or as a consumer you may just notice these companies first over competitors. This is a win-win for all--both companies and employees benefit from arts partnerships.

Last year I had the pleasure of touring the magnificent John Michael Kohler Arts Center, as well as visiting the Kohler manufacturing facilities and showroom in Sheboygan and Kohler, Wisconsin. During my visit, I learned directly from Herb Kohler of the impressive Arts/Industry program, a partnership between the Arts Center and Kohler Company, which makes the facilities and technologies of the Kohler Company's Pottery, Iron and Brass foundries, and Enamel Shop available to artists from around the world. In residencies of 2 to 6 months, artists are able to explore new ways of thinking and working and to create bodies of work that are not possible in their own studios. More than 500 artists have been involved over the last forty years since 1974.

The Arts/Industry program is having a remarkable effect on Kohler and the region. The artists' involvement in the factory and the community energizes the associates, and a creative synergy develops not only with the designers but also with engineers, slip casters, and enameling specialists. The cross-pollination has led to innovative ideas regarding products. Kohler is a name synonymous with bathroom and kitchen fixtures. But its internationally acclaimed arts partnership is getting plenty of attention too, not only for artist opportunities, but also for helping the company to stay at the forefront of its industry.

Kohler is just one of many such partnerships. In 2012, Americans for the Arts launched The pARTnership Movement campaign to help business leaders understand how the arts can build competitive advantage. The arts can help recruit talent, advance corporate objectives, develop a wider consumer-base, engage employees, and build stronger communities by contributing to the economy and quality of life.

Over the years, more and more businesses have stood out for the extraordinary, powerful ways that they enrich their workplaces and communities by partnering with the arts. These businesses provide the arts skills-based volunteers, board members, exhibition and performance spaces, marketing support, and financial and in-kind support. They also incorporate meaningful arts-related programs into their employee, customer, and community relations activities. The breadth of arts and business partnerships is impressive and definitely worth celebrating--but sadly, too much under the radar.

To get these stories above the radar, Americans for the Arts, through its Business Committee for the Arts (BCA) program, each year recognizes 10 such businesses--as well as a company and an individual, for its Hall of Fame Award and Leadership Award--that have shown exceptional long-term commitment to supporting the arts. Incidentally, Kohler Company is a 2011 BCA Hall of Fame honoree.

Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO of Americans for the Arts (left) with members of the Americans for the Arts Board of Directors and the BCA Executive Board at the BCA 10 gala (from left to right) Edgar Smith, Deborah Jordy, Michael Spring, Robert Lamb, III, Julie Muraco, and Floyd W. Green, III. Photo by Rana Faure at Americans for the Arts' BCA 10 gala.

October 6, I celebrated with this year's honorees at the annual BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America gala. The 2015 honorees, big and small, come from a variety of industries: financial services, automotive, specialty glass, manufacturing, food and beverage, energy, and real estate.

This op ed by Robert L. Lynch was originally posted on 10/16/15 by the Huffington Post

1 responses for Powerful and Surprising Arts and Business Partnerships: Enriching Workplaces and Communities Nationwide

Comments

Ms. Camilla Ross says
October 26, 2015 at 10:39 am

The Emerson Theater Collaborative has always sought out to partner with businesses that are not arts related. There is so much to be accomplished by working together.  The success of any project is enhanced ten-fold because of the varied interest of people. Each contributor has something to share and it adds valuable insight into the relationships of business,arts and community. Our latest collaboration is working with a daycare, and The Light House for Autism. This project is so meanful because it will allow us to see how the arts affects these two different businesses. What we will learn from each other in this process will not only enhance our business partnership but our community as well.
Camilla Ross, President Emerson Theater Collaborative (ETC) 

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