Americans for the Arts’ Arts & Business Partnership Initiatives department provides resources, training, and professional development to its dual audience of arts services providers and business leaders, relying on The pARTnership Movement hub as the primary vehicle.
The pARTnership Movement demonstrates the underlying unifying nature of arts and business partnerships. It prepares arts organizations to position themselves as key partners to help advance business objectives, while communicating to business the value and importance of partnering with the arts to gain a competitive edge.
For Arts
Professional Development
We offer a range of opportunities for professional development to build capacity for partnership development. From 1-hour webinars, to half-day, deep-dive intensives, our programs cover a variety of topics including partnering with your chamber of commerce, building an inclusive creative economy, exploring the concepts of the pARTnership Movement, employee engagement and more. These programs are conducted via the Americans for the Arts ArtsU platform and are free or reduced-priced for members.
Networking
We provide ample opportunities for arts and culture leaders who are working to build relationships with businesses to connect and learn from one another. We offer regular peer networking conference calls, social opportunities during the Annual Convention programming, listserv connections (for members, see below) and topic-specific convenings such as through our United Arts Fund Network. Serving on our Private Sector Network Advisory Council also provides a leadership opportunity for members of Americans for the Arts to connect with peers and advise the organization on services and programming for the field.
Training
Americans for the Arts staff is available to provide training for local arts communities on building business pARTnerships. Rooted in the pARTnership Movement 8 Reasons and prinicpals, one to four-hour workshops are customizable depending on the audience and its interests, covering a range of topics including arts and business 101, relationship building, employee engagement, and program building. Longer training sessions are available. Additional focus on a group’s special interest area, such as partnering with the arts to further economic development, or arts advocacy efforts in a community can be included.
Workshops and trainings can be combined with other conversations to help position cross-sector partnerships. Staff is available to meet with your chamber of commerce, public sector, and foundation partners; in conversation or at events. Please contact us to learn more.
For Business
Arts & Business Partnership Awards
The Arts and Business Partnership Award is a national recognition given annually to businesses that have mutually beneficial, innovative, and sustained partnerships with the arts. Each year, winners of this award are celebrated at The Arts and Business Partnership Awards Gala in New York City and become part of a network of like-minded businesses and leaders. These companies set the standard for excellence and serve as role models for others to follow. Americans for the Arts has honored companies across the nation, including Microsoft, Hallmark, Scholastic, and Walt Disney World Resort.
Business Committee for the Arts
The Business Committee for the Arts of Americans for the Arts is comprised of companies and their leaders within who recognize the role the arts play in advancing business goals and transforming communities. Member companies and their leadership serve as ambassadors for the mission and engage on key initiatives including messaging, advocacy, and strategic alliances within the private-sector community. With access to a community of likeminded companies and peers, the network is a catalyst for greater leverage of the arts to address broad business, community and social issues.
Business Spotlight Series
The Business Spotlight series highlights some of the nation's most pro-arts business leaders whose work continues to push the boundaries of arts and business partnerships.

Partnerships in Practice
Through news items and long form success stories, the pARTnership movement highlights exemplary businesses partnerships with the arts. Learn about companies like yours who champion the arts!
Convenings and Conversations
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BCA members have access to an array of annual activities and resources curated to meet specific business needs and to create opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement and networking.
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BCA Field Trips. Includes an annual 1-day immersive experience showcasing the best of business and arts collaboration. The tour rotates to a different U.S. city each year. In 2021 this will be in digital form.
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BCA Knowledge Exchanges. Includes a suite of conference calls featuring peer guest speakers and experts; access to ArtsU online trainings; and Roundtables. Knowledge Exchanges deliver information and resources about the latest hot topics driving corporate innovation and impact.
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BCA Speakers. An annual series of presentation opportunities for the CEOs of BCA member companies and/or their designated representatives at events organized by Americans for the Arts, including the BCA Knowledge Exchanges; the National Arts Action Summit in Washington, D.C.; and the Annual Convention, and National Arts Marketing Conference in rotating cities across the country. Speaking opportunities for BCA members may also be available through our strategic partner events and conferences. In 2021, these will be virtual opportunities.
Partnering Your Way to Success: The Arts as a Solution to Corporate Objectives
This digital series is intended for businesses and their executive and senior leaders across business units, and features representatives throughout the country sharing arts-based models of programs, exhibits, and partnerships that have benefitted their companies. With one session focused on case-studies and a follow-up roundtable discussion, we hope to provide business leaders with creative strategies to realize business goals. Each discussion will also feature an arts activation or performance to demonstrate how the arts can be used in business settings to engage and connect with employees and customers during this time of social distancing.