Do you have arts programming at your workplace?

November 9, 2009 9:25 AM

Arts programming in the workplace? Tell me what you know.

I am looking for arts programming that takes place in workplaces and is open to all workers at that location. So, for example, a poetry workshop offered at lunchtime, or a intro to drawing available tuesday afternoons, or an arts appreciation class during shift change at 11pm. Do you work for a company that makes this kind of arts programming available to their employees? Do you work for an arts organization that does this kind of programming in workplaces? Please share your experiences. Links would be great as my google-fu has failed me on this one.

posted by hworth to work & money (5 comments total)

This guy has been teaching "applied improv" to various people. I know he's done workshops at local companies.
posted by amtho at 11:56 AM on November 9, 2009

At a commercial publishing company I once worked for, everyone took their break at the same time in the morning and in the afternoon, and frequently there was some artsy thing going on during those 15-minute time slots, though mostly in an informal way. People who were musicians were encouraged to give mini-concerts, and I think there was some poetry reading, too. Management didn't spend much on this, except to keep the piano tuned -- but someone high up must have been a real arts patron, since there was a grand piano sitting around a (non-musical) publisher's office in the first place.

I couldn't tell you if this has continued: in the 20 years since, the company has been absorbed by a conglomerate, so I'm not sure if it even exists any more.
posted by philokalia at 12:29 PM on November 9, 2009

It's not company wide, but our department does something artsy/crafty each friday. Earlier this year, some of my co-workers did some amazing playdough foods.

We also have a rather large collection of modern art that one of the founders bought in the company name, and there is a book, maintained by the Facilities Coordinator, that gives details on all the pieces. They used to do guided tours of the collection, and I think still will, if you ask and can wait for an available time in her schedule.
posted by nomisxid at 1:04 PM on November 9, 2009

Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown has a pretty awesome arts therapy program. All manner of classes, demonstrations, readings, exercises take place, for the benefit of patients, staff, family, etc.

The Arts and Humanities Dept runs the program at Lombardi. Google for a bunch of articles.
posted by desuetude at 7:04 PM on November 9, 2009

Look for arts residencies - I know there's been some initiatives with Arts Queensland in Australia that's exactly for this sort of thing.
posted by divabat at 1:59 AM on November 10, 2009