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Arts Council England

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Visual - The Art Gallery for Businesses

Visual is a new and unique business service from Arts and Business West Midlands bringing affordable high quality contemporary art into the workplace. Formerly known as Virtual, the project was established in 2004 to transform working environments, make art more accessible and encourage individuals to engage with art on a deeper level. Art can be purchased by businesses (throughout the UK and internationally) for a corporate collection or by individuals for their office or home.

15 February 2008 - Go back to Own Art February Bulletin

Own Art
David Rowan, RR1,Courtesy of Visual

Facts

  • Art inspires and motivates employees. The majority of people are more likely to stay at a company where the environment is motivating and inspiring.

  • Almost three-quarters of the British workforce would like to see art in their workplace. The likelihood of having visual art on the wall can be as low as 37% outside London.

(Source: Arts & Business survey)

Key features of Visual

  • An online gallery www.VISUALforBUSINESS.com for individuals to view and purchase artworks (over 600 in the collection).
    The website is available from March 13.

  • Exhibitions of professionally selected high quality contemporary art for business environments. Opportunities for employees to select the artwork to exhibit.

  • Commissioning service

  • Development of corporate art collections

  • Art loans for specific business locations or events

  • Artist-led workshops for staff, clients, or community stakeholders

  • Creative training

  • Projects with community groups to contribute to CSR agendas

All the artists represented in Visual have been selected by a panel of business leaders and arts professionals, including David Drake, Head of Visual Arts at Arts Council England West Midlands and Jonathan Watkins, Director of the Ikon Gallery. Current clients include The Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham, Ernst & Young and Aston Business School.

“The objective for Ernst & Young is to make art accessible, whether this be at a regional or national level… Our staff were able to access a wide range of art online, and many purchased pieces of art as a result.”
Ronnie Bowker, Senior Partner, Ernst & Young

Own Art
Jane Anderson, Watching, Courtesy of Visual

For the next 12 months Visual is available to a strictly limited number of businesses. If your business would like to take advantage of this opportunity and reap real benefits by engaging with the contemporary visual arts, please contact: Katja.ogrin@AandB.org.uk

Forthcoming Visual events

  • Visual will be launched on March 13 at Baskerville House, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham

  • Visual at Baskerville House is an exhibition of fine art, photography and contemporary craft selected from the project. Open to the public from 13-29 March.  Catalogue available to purchase.

  • Visual at City Inn Westminster is an exhibition that launched in January featuring artwork from Visual. Open until 12 April.

  • Visual at Crosby Lend Lease is a large-scale commission by artist Jane Anderson and is being installed in mid-February at the Birmingham South Side development

  • Visual at Aston Business School is a large commission by artist Eryka Isaak and will be launched in April 08

Note
Own Art interest free loans are only available for personal accounts and not for business use. Visual is currently not a member of the Own Art scheme.

www.aandb.org.uk
Visual