For over 32 years Arts & Business has worked tirelessly to promote partnerships between business and the arts. As leading thinkers in the cultural sector and through constant innovation we have grown to become a world-leader in our field. Our latest research shows that private sector investment in the arts is
at an all-time high. This is a great British success story copied
across the globe. We are proud of our past and confident in our future.
Against this background I am delighted to be launching Visual, our new contemporary art service for the benefit of businesses, their employees and, of course, the brilliant talented artists with whom we are working.
Through Visual we are providing business with a high-quality, flexible and low-risk contemporary art service. From fine artists and photographers to digital artists and designer-makers, Visual is currently promoting the work of 66 professional artists – all of whom have been selected by panels of senior arts professionals and business leaders following open submission. The selection is driven by quality, however, value for money and appropriateness to the business and domestic environment are also important considerations for our panels.
To date our primary focus has been the West Midlands and I am most grateful for the financial support we have received from Arts Council England West Midlands, Business Link and our sponsor EDS for helping us to get to where we are today. In addition, I want to thank Mark Renn and Mick Thacker of the Renn & Thacker Partnership LLP. Visual is based on an original idea by them and I’m grateful for the creativity and enthusiasm they have put into their work with us. During 2008 we intend to expand our network of artists and begin promoting the benefits of Visual in other parts of England and Wales.
We have a great team working on Visual and have already delivered outstanding work for clients such as Ernst & Young, Aston Business School, Birmingham & Solihull Chamber of Commerce, City Inn and Crosby Lend Lease. We now look forward to working with you.
Gavin Buckley
Director
Arts & Business West Midlands