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Benefits of Art in the Workplace

Benefits of Art in the Workplace

Benefits of Art in the Workplace

The past couple of years was full of shifts. Shifting away from physically seeing friends to zoom calls with our loved ones. From simply walking into a store to masking up, sanitizing our hands constantly, and keeping 6 feet away from others. Going to movies in a theatre to Netflix at home. From going out to dinner in a social environment to either picking up dinner or making more dinners at home. Going to work to working from home with Zoom meetings.

Some shifts were good, some were hard, but we all had to shift and change the way we did most things in life.

Prior to COVID, sparse and sterile workspaces were the popular choice with the idea of minimizing distractions so employees can focus on the tasks at hand.

Because of COVID, we have a better understanding of mental health, both in and out of the workplace. Most employers have a better perception of the value of their employees. When an employee is happy in their workplace environment, their performance increases. The benefits of Art in the Workplace are important.

Art can be an essential part of the physical environment and an aid to mental health. Quality is added to the workday and connects people in powerful (and quite productive) ways with art in the workplace. Art can promote creativity and change an outlook creating a fresh new approach.

Practical implications of Art in the Workplace

There may be several positive impacts on employees and clients when art is present in the workplace, including interpersonal learning and mission-related content learning. Art connected to the organization’s mission are valued by staff and clients.

Art supports brand and organizational values.

Compelling artwork can communicate so much in mere seconds. Its immediate visual impact can be used to reinforce an organization’s brand, reflect its values, and convey the energy and emotion behind its mission.

But beyond aesthetics, art in the workplace shows that management cares about the environment and takes pride in what they do. In this way, art elevates both the employee and the client experience.

Art Promotes Social Interaction

By serving as a gathering place, helping team members change organizational hierarchies and departmental divisions. These art-filled communal spaces encourage chance encounters, conversation, and collaboration. A superior can now be an equal when discussing an art piece. It can give a different perspective on a person during these chance meetings.

Art boosts morale and productivity.

So many of us spend most of our day at the office so it’s easy to understand how engaging art can enrich a space and in turn, energize our days. Looking at a beautiful or emotional artwork, can alter your mood and perception.

Art inspires creative thinking

By offering us a pause — that rare mental and emotional respite in a harried and over-scheduled day. And aren’t some of our best ideas are born out of pauses?

Painting, sculpture, photography, and kinetic pieces all challenge us to stop, to think in new ways, and approach challenges with an inventive spirit. Though we may not even register it consciously, creative spaces feed our individual creativity.

Art keeps employees engaged with the connection between environment and attitude. Organizations strive to create offices that are safe, convenient, comfortable, and designed to bring out the very best in their people. Though the effects of art may seem intangible at times, they are no less fundamental to organizational success.

Think of art as an interactive backdrop. Every innovation, conversation, strategy, and success happen around it (and sometimes because of it). With art online, in an online art gallery like The Art Hive Collective, it is simpler to find the perfect piece for your office.

Does your workplace have art? Let us know your thoughts, here.

 

 

Abstract Art As Therapy

Abstract Art As Therapy

Abstract Art as Therapy

Abstract art is not just a mixture of colourful meaningless patterns and arbitrary shapes.

The choice of colours, patterns and size of canvas can express different emotions. Sometimes expressing oneself verbally is difficult to articulate your true feelings. However, using paint to paper seems much easier.

Expression through abstract art is freeing. There is no ‘real life’ comparison to what has been created. There is no standard to evaluate from. This suspension of judgment can help release tension or help the mind free itself and open to new possibilities. In a way, this can be viewed as similar to therapy.

Viewer Value

As a viewer, there is a definite therapeutic value to be found in most of the cryptic marks.

Certainly, colour plays an obvious healing and therapeutic role to be found in a carefully selected crafted piece.  Vast areas of empty colour space might add a general feeling of peace and quiet to an otherwise noisy and hectic environment. With a gentle sense of immersion into abstract stillness can slow down any critical or erratic thinking. Even assist with the adrenal challenge of a creative.

Indefinite shapes or patterns by the likes of Jackson Pollock, Peter Lanyon, and Howard Hodgkin show a very positive association. May perhaps persuade a mind filled with illogical thoughts to pause. Simply take in the apparent spontaneity, and then take a different direction.

Some works can be seen as puzzle in which the observer has no real point of reference. Therefore, the viewer is free to “start” anywhere upon the picture. Since there are very few defined areas, sometimes the observer inevitably finds themself either regarding the piece with little emotion. Therefore can freely make a comment – positive or not.

Let us not deny, however, the fact that many an image that has the potential to provoke a negative response. This can also be of great value to the observer who might benefit from seeing such a challenging picture that bears such a bad association. Better there on the wall than here inside the head.

In this case the classic associations of red for blood and danger, black for death and sin, brown for decay and illness. In addition to dramatic lines and movements found in a painting are equally valuable stimuli if revealed within the appropriate environment.

Choice of Artwork

Abstract Art has a unique quality of provoking radically different views, emotions, and opinions among those looking at it. That’s why abstract art has proven to be the best choice for collaborative workspaces. Abstract art has the power of unlocking people’s creative potential without distracting too much from the discussion and issues at hand.  

Take a look at out own Elena Marin’s Artwork, Carsten Arnold’s photography, June Corstorphine’s Alcohol Ink Artwork and Denis Halliwell’s ‘Lobelia‘ on the Art Hive. 

Where have you noticed abstract art? Where would be a great place for abstract art? Let us know your thoughts.

Abstract Art

 

Luminosity by June Corstorphine
Tree Dreams in Blue by Carsten Arnold
Underwater by Elena Marin
Investing in Canadian Art – A Tax Perspective

Investing in Canadian Art – A Tax Perspective

Investing in Canadian Art – A Tax Deduction

Having art in our space just makes it better. Art adds personality, evokes emotions and makes a blank wall beautiful. 

The Canadian government has implemented alluring tax incentives to promote the purchase of original Canadian works of art.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has established that taxpayers who purchase or rent Canadian artworks, either for their personal office or for the common areas of their places of business (such as the lobby or hallway) can claim a tax deduction for the cost of purchasing or renting the work.

If you own a business, there are some great tax benefits to collecting Canadian Art.

Buying artwork is considered as an capital expense for corporations or individuals who operate a business. An individual or organization may qualify for an annual tax deduction provided certain criteria are met.

 

Under the Tax Act, this purchase must meet the following criteria:

1. The artwork must have been created by a Canadian artist and must be related to the business’s commercial activities and exhibited in a place of business where it will be seen by clients.

2. A print, etching, drawing, painting, sculpture, or other similar work of art that is greater than $200 in value

3. Made by a Canadian artist at the time the art was created, whether a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident

4. If the buyer is a GST and QST registrant, he can recover the taxes paid at the time of purchasing the artwork by claiming input tax credits.

If the purchase meets these criteria, the buyer is entitled to a declining deduction of 33% of the cost of purchasing the artwork (class 8.1) at the provincial level and of 20% (class 8) at the federal level.

Some works of art are, however, excluded and do not qualify for a tax credit, more specifically works having a value of less than $200 or created prior to the 1900s – created over 100 years ago.

CONTACT AN ACCOUNTANT

Of course, contacting your accountant for more specifics on this matter is highly recommended.

So, supporting Canadian art besides feeling good, supporting the Canadian economy and making your business stand out, is good for the bottom line.  What’s holding you back?

Email us with any questions you may have?

See All ART

New Brunswick Landmark by Shirley Thomas
Icelandic Horse - Carsten Arnold