It was a bright and beautiful morning as Business & Arts NL debuted a new look and feel, and shared some big news, at the latest Sunrise event this past Friday.
Members of the business and arts communities came together to help ring in the occasion over coffee, conversation and a little early morning inspiration to help get the creative juices flowing. The event took place at the new conference centre at the Fortis building on Springdale Street in downtown St. John’s.
Barry Perry, President and CEO of Fortis, kicked things off by welcoming the crowd. Kevin Casey, Business & Arts board member and Executive Vice President and Partner at Cal LeGrow, also shared some insight into the new brand, which focuses on collaboration and what the arts can bring to the business community.
Business & Art NL’s beautiful new logo was designed by renowned local graphic designer and illustrator Jud Haynes. Using primary colours and focusing on the ampersand, it perfectly illustrates the concept that the business and arts communities are stronger and better when they work together.
Haynes wasn’t the only artist on hand at the event. The soundtrack to the morning came courtesy of local guitarist Gordon Quinton, who entertained the crowd with his fine folk/fingerpicking stylings.
Julie Lewis of SassyTuna Studio also got guests to flex their artistic muscles as she led them in a watercolour mosaic-making activity. Each person painted a small square, which was then scanned by Lewis and assembled to create Business & Art NL’s new logo. The activity literally pointed toward the bigger picture and further emphasized what can be accomplished when creativity and collaboration is embraced.
Business & Arts also unveiled a new video (made by Pat Dunn) that tells the story of the collaboration between the St. John’s International Airport and visual artist Vessela Brakalova, which resulted in the beautiful digital mosaic work in the new departures area. (Click here to view the video.) This partnership is further proof of the creative solutions that can be uncovered when artists share their experience, expertise and talents with the business community.
The organization also shared news about the launch of a new project to build relationships between the business and arts communities. “Design Thinking: Collaborating for Innovation” is a year-long program that will use design thinking methodology as a way to encourage both sectors to solve problems together. Part of the program, says Dr. Ian Sutherland, Business & Arts board member and Dean of the School of Music at Memorial University, will focus on “taking business professionals and arts professionals and helping them all become creative professionals.”
Through a series of design labs, training opportunities and internships, it will also establish new connections and strengthen the understanding of the value of creative skills in a modern workforce.
“The creativity and culture of our province has long been hailed as the ‘secret sauce’ that drives our identity as a province and fuels our tourism industry,” says Mark Dobbin, Business & Arts NL Co-Chair.
“This project will help businesses find ways to bring that secret sauce into their teams and products to help foster growth and resilience.”
