On the Web: www.AmericansForTheArts.org/BCA     By E-mail: [email protected]

Bringing Creativity to the Courtroom
Intelligent Entertainment Solutions recently released a case study that highlights the success of a partnership between performing artists and renowned law firm Duane Morris. During a collaborative workshop, employees were taught to use principles of comedy and storytelling to hone creative thinking. The business believes that in a corporate environment, creative skills give professionals a competitive advantage to solve problems; market their skills; and improve teamwork, client relations, and productivity. Duane Morris employees commented that the workshop taught them how to deliver appropriate humor and stories in a presentation. For information, www.pARTnershipmovement.org.

Take Note

Kohl’s Cultivates Creative Thinking
Kohl's Department Stores and Milwaukee Art Museum announced the grand opening of the new Kohl's Education Center inside the museum. The center includes the Kohl's Art Generation Studio, Gallery and Lab, designed for families and children to cultivate an appreciation and love for art, especially when art education may not be available at schools due to budget cuts. Visitors will learn about art through fun, high-tech, and interactive games and exhibits while also being able to create their own art. For information, http://mam.org.

The Art of Innovation
Women from some of the most highly innovative companies in Silicon Valley visited the San Jose Museum to immerse themselves in art and bring out their most creative sides. Siobhan Kenney of Applied Materials talks about the experience in a recent blog. She states that the “guests were challenged to examine how an artist—or any innovator—grapples with the complexities of a problem. They explored the results of bold experimentation and risk-taking leadership.” For information, www.pARTnershipmovement.org.

The Art of Dairy Art Contest
Lucerne, Safeway Inc.'s exclusive dairy brand, has chosen nine finalists for the Seventh Annual Lucerne The Art of Dairy Art Contest, and the finalist will receive a $30,000 grand prize. The contest is a way to promote creative growth and encourage expression. The finalists will transfer their designs onto an unconventional canvas—a life-sized fiberglass cow. Lucerne has contributed more than $327,000 to schools, teachers, and students since the first Art of Dairy contest in 2005. This year, more than 9,200 entries were received from schools nationwide. For information, www.marketwatch.com.

Original Minds Connect to Make Music
Volkswagen Group of America announced that it will sponsor The Museum of Modern Art live performance exhibition, featuring 3-D visualization and a selection of original compositions by electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk. President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America Jonathan Browning said, “The originality and creativity that Kraftwerk brings to its performances are well-aligned with the core values of the Volkswagen brand, and we are excited to support this exhibition at MoMA as part of our ongoing partnership.” The sponsorship of Kraftwerk - Retrospective 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, is part of a multiyear partnership between Volkswagen, MoMA, and MoMA PS1 that began in May 2011. For information, http://media.vw.com.

Facts and Figures

Cause Marketing: a Slower Rise?
IEG, a Chicago firm that matches brands and organizations, is projecting that cause marketing sponsorship spending will rise by 4.9 percent in 2012 to $51 billion worldwide, but will face a slowing of growth. Arts sponsorship is expected to rise 2.6 percent from 2011 to 2012. According to the Cone Cause-Evolution study, 83 percent of Americans say they wish brands would support causes, and 41 percent have bought a product because it was associated with a cause. For information, http://adage.com.

Looking Over the Pond
UK companies gave £134m during FY 2010–2011 according to Arts and Business UK. This is down £10m from the previous year and is at its lowest since 2003–2004. Jonathan Moulds, Bank of America Merrill Lynch's Europe president and chair of the Arts and Business leadership campaign, said increased awareness was needed to persuade businesses that the arts could benefit communities and the companies themselves. For information, www.bbc.co.uk.

Private Sector Network

Adams Outdoor Brings Art Outside
The Arts Council of Greater Lansing in Michigan has partnered with Adams Outdoor advertising to fill billboards with local artwork, forming an initiative called Art in the Sky. The initiative promotes local artists and brings art to the public in a new way. The billboards will be rotated throughout the greater Lansing area for the next two years, so they will be up in different locations every few months. Five other billboards from local artists were put into rotation last year, reaching a total of nine billboards in the greater Lansing region. For information, www.wilx.com.

Speaking From Experience
"The pARTnership Movement couldn’t be timelier. As many companies are facing monumental changes, the arts are key in helping business adapt and succeed."- Christopher Forbes, Vice Chairman, FORBES Media and 2011 BCA Leadership Award Winner

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