Conference Proceedings 2010 [pdf] - Art & Design Symposium ...

Examples of the Gap Between Art and Business
1) Businesses combat poverty and social exclusion in Europe – My remark: And what about Artists? 3
2) International Human Rights Day 2009- A new call for companies from key markets to adopt human rights
policies: My remark: And What about the role played by art and artists? 4
We asked ourselves whether artists can build a new Alliance with business in promoting social justice in
maintaining their freedom without to be instrumental to business purpose. Art should not be used by any
economic or political propaganda. Artists’ freedom, autonomy and powers of self-expression should be
respected.
Relationships Between Art and Economy: New Tendencies
The recent interest of business in arts is a symptom of a gap of creativity. New thinking and research shows
that aesthetics may provide a new context that allows for new inspiration and a more balanced approach for
economic activity. Understanding these new pressures and behaviours is important for arts organisations and
artists looking to establish partnerships with enterprises, public and private institutions.
First of all, business funding for the arts comes from two main sources; marketing spend such as sponsorships
where the business derives a clear branding benefit, and from corporate community investment budgets.
Community investment is a distinct part of CSR and relates to a company’s commitment to the community via
the contribution of finance and skills. Companies often use their community investment activities as a way of
contributing to solving social problems. These activities often form the front end of a company’s communication
about responsible corporate behaviour.
From research into CSR and the arts appears that businesses are looking more favourably on arts activities
that engage the community or address social problems. CSR professionals are more interested in funding
community based art and are moving away from traditional forms of corporate hospitality, concerned about
charges of patronage or elitism. There is also recognition among CSR professionals that arts activities offer
specific benefits when compared with other causes. These include:
• improving relationships with local communities
• Employee training
• engaging a wide group of stakeholders, injecting creativity
• helping businesses to think differently
In spite of this business behaviour art and artists are still unevaluated. The involvement of art is considered as
an instrument and not a key value.
Art and Social Justice
The view that art has a special social role to play derives from often unexamined assumptions about the
relation between art and life. The natural tendency to turn to art to tell us about the world and ourselves, but
"new culture of ethics and responsibility", Barroso stressed the importance of re-building trust in business. "People still want markets
- but they want markets with a conscience", Barroso said (The European Business Network for Corporate Social Responsibility).
3
2010 will be the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. Today, 79 million people in Europe live at risk of
poverty - 16% of the population. In line with the theme of the Year, many companies are addressing poverty and social exclusion
issues as part of their CSR strategy, and several collaborative CSR Laboratories have brought together companies and stakeholders
to develop joint approaches to combating social exclusion (The European Business Network for Corporate Social Responsibility).
4
Major companies are being urged to make public commitments to respect human rights. Over 240 companies worldwide
now have a policy statement on their commitment to human rights.
Realizing Rights and the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre are continuing their efforts to encourage more companies to
adopt similar policies. Building on their successful initiative in 2008 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the two organizations are drawing international attention to the growing number of companies that have taken this
important step and urging more to take leadership in this important area (The European Business Network for Corporate Social
Responsibility).
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