Part 1:

Public Art is a Proven Method for Building Business and Community

The impact of Art on the Corner on the growth of the downtown over the last twenty years has been obvious. Some long-time residents of Grand Junction probably remember how many businesses closed down on Main Street when Mesa Mall first opened. Once the sculptures were on display, people and businesses started to return to the downtown area. Since then, Art on the Corner has been one of Grand Junction’s main attractions for visitors. In fact, art and cultural events have had a significant and measurable impact on our local economy.

The Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture reports that during the 2000 fiscal year, Arts and Culture had a direct $6.7 million impact on the local economy. Moreover, 75 visual art exhibits resulted in a total attendance of 25,350 people. Figures for Art on the Corner are not included since an accurate count of visitors is difficult, but they estimate that the viewers of the project would at least double or triple the exhibition audience numbers. Every time I take daily twenty minute walk or two minute drive down Main Street, I count around 10-20 people looking at, touching and admiring the artwork. Grand Junction is not alone in their progressive inclusion of the arts. Cities such as Philadelphia, PA, Charleston, SC and Newark, NJ have created art districts in an effort to revitalize downtown areas suffering from crime and suburban flight. The city of Albany, New York has seen their annual tourism revenue increase from $20 million to over $150 million per year since putting a new emphasis on the arts. So why does our art make such an impact on communities?

Art is unique in that it is a creation for humans, by humans. In a recent BBC documentary, Walking With Cavemen, Episode 4 scientist assert that art is the mark of a survivor. Conceiving of and creating art, requires the cognitive ability to understand symbolism. “Although there were anatomical differences between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens, the key difference is in their minds, their cognitive thinking; such as making art and jewelry. Neanderthals saw and interacted with the world in a very different way to us. Symbolism gave modern humans many advantages. For example the giving and receiving of gifts would have led to a highly complex social network – a web of alliances and friendships to fall back on, when times got hard. Through items of jewelry given as gifts, people were able to maintain friendships in their absence.” With such a long history of art being tied to the concepts of gift-giving and community building, it is no wonder that humans are instinctively drawn towards public art.

The Art on the Corner display not only brings visitors to the downtown area, but also encourages them to stay a little longer, spending hours looking at art and shopping and dining in local businesses. Now imagine if the sculptures were just resin and cement lawn ornaments that were created in a factory rather than by artists. Would the project have the same effect? On the contrary, it would probably have a detrimental effect on the setting of the area.

Part 2:

Imagine now, that you had an office with original paintings, rather than reproductions, which made people want to stop, look and maybe have a discussion with you. Maybe the art just makes them feel so at ease in your office that they relax and feel more open to hearing about your products and services. In fact, original fine art displays in your business could result in new customers who just come in to visit the art! Adam Aronson, chairman emeritus of Mark Twain Bancshares, Inc. told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that, "Collecting art...turned out to make good business sense for Mark Twain Bancshares. When the bank opened its first branch in south St. Louis County in 1963, the area was a cultural desert. So when the branch began exhibiting museum-quality paintings on its walls, people flocked into its lobby--and many of them opened accounts...'It was rewarding...' having art on the walls 'was exciting and helped it become a $3 billion bank."

Locally, Dale Cole of Cole and Company Reality collects art for his office. He believes “it lends a professional atmosphere and has some intrinsic value that you can’t really put your finger on. It is calming, it’s interesting, it makes the day a little nicer. The art makes the office feel warmer; it feels like it’s not just business.” When you collect art for you company, you are demonstrating that you are beyond the basics of office furniture and machines. Clients will feel the abundance that your fine art collection represents. Art also creates an environment in which your employees feel more satisfied in their work environment. Employers who create beautiful working spaces send the message to their workers that they care about them and the business. The Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. (BCA) randomly selected companies ranging from food distributors to law firms that have workplace art collections and found that 94% percent of respondents agree that art enhances the work environment.

In addition, the survey responses indicated having art in the workplace:

• evidences the company’s interest in improving the quality of life in the workplace (84% agree)

• helps reduce stress (78% agree)

• increase creativity and productivity (64% agree)

• enhances moral (67% agree)

• helps build customer relations (65% agree)

• Broadens employee appreciation of diversity and encourages discussion and expression of opinions (77% agree)

• helps build community relations (73% agree)

• Leads to networking opportunities (52%)

An HR Gateway survey has shown that employees of companies that display art perceive their company as being “very” successful compared to employees who worked for companies that did not. Since fine art humanizes environments and strengthens community, it should come as no surprise that the presence of art in the workplace inspires higher job performance from employees.

Art will enrich your environment, stimulate creative thinking and communicate your company's vision. William C. Butcher, former chairman of the Chase Manhattan Art Committee concurs, "The thinking processes of our employees are stimulated by the influence of art in their work environment, sometimes directly, sometimes subtly. The emphasis on contemporary art underscores our responsiveness to the present and our commitment to the future."

To successfully collect art for your business, you need to ask yourself some questions. What is our mission? What work would identify and communicate our vision to our clients and employees? What do I want to inspire from my employees? Flexibility? Communication? Innovation? What images would convey the attitudes I would like to promote in my staff? What colors will energize or relax clients and employees? Where in the building do I want my staff energized and where would I like to see them relax? If you hit a road block, an art consultant can help answer these questions and guide you through the process.

Since art has such a powerful effect on humans, and your business is of utmost importance to you, building an art collection for your company requires a plan above and beyond that of your personal art collection. Like so many successful art-collecting companies and communities, you will be glad that you chose art to represent your commitment to your company and its success.