The coming months do not just bring cooler temperatures, scarves, and cocoa, they’ll also bring us a boost in stirring arts events. Here at Americans for the Arts, we’ve been working hard to create proper arts celebrations for National Arts and Humanities Month which starts in a few short days, rounding out in the end of October.
But don’t worry, the celebration will carry through November as the Business Committee for the Arts celebrates the work of ten remarkable companies at The BCA TEN: Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America. Spotlights will shine on Thomas A. James, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Raymond James, the recipient of the BCA Leadership Award, and Movado, Inc., which being inducted into the BCA Hall of Fame. Art and business partnerships will be celebrated in proper fashion on November 19 at one of my favorite museums—The Museum of Natural History in New York City.
What’s really exciting about this year’s event is seeing some of the new and creative ways that corporations are working with arts organizations. For example, Adobe Systems has taken an inspired approach to advance the arts through their Adobe volunteer programs. The Adobe volunteer program gives employees the opportunity to lend their skills to arts organizations that may be in need. Recently the Adobe web marketing staff collaborated with the San Jose Museum of Art to work towards effective marketing ideas. The end result? A great team building opportunity for Adobe and fresh marketing ideas for the museum!
The judges faced quite a task this year as they had to choose from an impressive pool of nominees for the BCA TEN. Applied Materials impressed the judges by showcasing their commitment to the arts community. I think all organizations keep an eye out for companies that dive right into the thick of it and work in unison to create a deeper niche for the arts. Applied Materials accomplishes just that. They supported the development and marketing of Artsopolis, an online resource to increase marketing and ticket sale support for local arts organizations. Artsopolis.com lists arts-related job opening, auditions, workshops, and so on. The site even offers eSavers, half priced tickets to arts events in Silicon Valley. You should be sure to remember that on you’re next trip to California! Applied Materials’ support of this site is a sure sign of their dedication to the arts community.
I hope we can celebrate the achievements of these companies together at THE BCA TEN in November. In the mean time…give a round of applause, at your desk if you may, to this year’s honorees!
THE BCA TEN – 2009
• Adobe Systems, San Jose, CA
• Applied Materials, Santa Clara, CA
• Arketype Inc., Green Bay, WI
• Brainforest Inc., Chicago, IL
• Dollar Bank, Pittsburgh, PA
• Duke Energy, Charlotte, NC
• Hanesbrands Inc., Winston-Salem, NC
• Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, Philadelphia, PA
• UMB Financial Corporation, Kansas City, MO
• Williams & Fudge Inc., Rock Hill, SC
BCA Leadership Award
• Thomas A. James, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Raymond James Financial, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL
BCA Hall of Fame
• Movado, Inc., Paramus, NJ
blog post by Timarie Harrigan, Business Committee for the Arts Associate
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