Business and arts – a match made in heaven?

I wrote this piece for Arts Professional last week and it caused a bit of a stir.

Over the last decade I’ve worked in both arts and in business in PR, Marketing and Communications.

Maybe because of the tighter budgets, or the fact that the audience is always demanding more but I’d argue the arts wins hands down on creative approaches. Business tends to be much more cautious of the media and how to connect with their audience.

I’ve received a lot of support for the piece, but also some criticism that there are plenty in the arts who don’t know how to write a business plan and thus need some help. I’m sure that’s the case, I just believe the arts needs perhaps to adopt a little of business’ caution about working with the right people who have the right skills. Shopping around, after all, can often mean you bag a better deal.

Have a read of the piece for yourself and let me know what you think.

1 Comment

  1. Can I congratulate you on your article.

    The loss of AFoundation comes as no surprise. Back in 2007 I was relocated from the opposite end of Jamaica Street, offered space in AFoundation, but politely turned it down. As an idea it was superb, as a vehicle it offered a fantastic platform to showcase work however as the grey clouds loomed – even back in 07, I knew it was a venture with a shelf-life of about five years.
    I’m not offering the ‘I told you so’ argument. I’m genuinely gutted it’s going however, with various signs pointing to the area stating it is Liverpool’s Cultural Quarter (and they quite literaly do!) I’m afraid someone is way off the mark.
    I know that pre Royal Court occupation a proposed move by Rawhide to a building in the same area was scuppered and NOVAs have been thru hard times recently.
    Essentially not only id the funding being strangled by the Govt (and I won’t mention the double edged sword when you include the Olympics) but the are is very very poorly served by local transport.
    Tales of a new Metro station on the junction of Parliament Street and George Street were grossly over-exaggerated so the question would be how do you get there sans car?
    The Boat Show is a tremendous blow. As you mention, the crowds flock to the Waterfront, one of (if not ‘the’) best in the world – with or without Heritage status.
    As for development and growth, well, we try our best
    I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with regard to legacy following 2008 but the fact is Liverpool was always going to struggle to meet . Add recession and cuts and Olympics and job losses to spending on events which, frankly, don’t connect with ‘community’ then it paints a pretty bleak picture.
    Nice article.

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