It was an early rise for some members of the local business and arts communities last Thursday as they got together to share coffee, conversation and creative energy during the latest event in Business & Arts NL’s Sunrise Series.
From 7:30am-9am Business & Arts NL business members, and potential members, converged on Atlantic Place in downtown St. John’s to witness the arts in action, and gain a better understanding of the role the arts play in building vibrant communities and strong economies.
Members of the business community also got the chance to chat with visual artists working out of the Atlantic Arts Space at the former Cora’s “corral” and view their works while learning more about their creative processes.
As sunshine burst through the windows, the crowd were treated to a moving performance courtesy of students with Lynn Panting Dance, followed by an address from Calla Lachance of Neighbourhood Dance Works. When it comes to the local arts scene, Lachance said, people are taking notice – here in the province and beyond.
Mark Dobbin, president of Killick Capital Inc. and co-chair of Business & Arts NL, also took to the mic to address the crowd. While we live in challenging times, Dobbin said, leveraging the arts and embracing creativity can help us see things through a different lens and come up with new approaches.
“Times like this call for creative thinking, new energy and fresh ideas. Evolve, innovate or perish. Throughout history right up to the present, thriving, innovative economies do not occur without a vibrant arts scene. Artists challenge us to think differently,” he said.
“Working with arts organizations taps into creativity, experimentation and innovation – all qualities that contribute to competitive advantage and relevance in the business world.”
Supporting and engaging with the local arts community, Dobbin said, has far-reaching benefits. And when the business and arts communities come together, great things can be achieved.
“Innovation and creativity go hand in hand. It is not enough to like and appreciate the arts sector if you want an innovative society,” he added.
“You must proactively support the arts so that this sector of our economy flourishes and imbibes the rest of our economy with its creative spark.”
For more on Sunrise at Atlantic Place, check out the CBC’s coverage here.
