How Can Art Improve Office Morale & Performance

Quitegreat

Free Member
Jul 4, 2019
3
0
cambridge
You wouldn’t be an artist unless you wanted to share an experience..’ David Hockney

Attempting to maximise the overall benefits of the most positive office environments ranges from the new coffee machine to relaxation pods with massage chairs and lunch time Yoga! However one of the most effective methods can be investing in art in the office.

Art creates conversation, moods, inspiration, peace, happiness and thoughtfulness. It brings people together, whether in agreement or disagreement and encourages people to share their thoughts and get to know each other in a much more sympathetic way.

Of course there will always be a market for the standard prints, the Ikea framed images, but to invest in more unique art and artists is much more exciting both for the buyer and of course the lucky staff! Paintings and furniture can be bought to serve more than just a functional purpose but can of course also be seen as a financial investement for the company. It has been said that ‘..office art increases the overall morale of a business unit, improves productivity and promotes gratifying collaboration..’ Research from the British Council also suggested that over 61% of staff felt that office art encouraged them to think more creatively.

There are of course many considerations an office art buyer could consider when investing in the right piece. Obviously size does matter, colour, form and subject matter are all again important factors. Some may even consider Feng Shui and how and where the art should be placed, the importance of positive subject matters that inspire and delight creating happiness. Or of course it could just be a subjective love by the buyer of a particular piece understanding the impact it can have on people, whether this is a portrait of someone in thought or fine art photography exuding talent and technical genius.

The inviting beach scene creates a mood of happiness and inspiration – does this inspire people to achieve that deserved luxury holiday? Can this brighten up a dull rainy day and inspire thoughts of happiness?

It is not only subject matter however that can have an impact but of course the technique of artworks can be intriguing and inspiring. A fine art photographer whose techniques involve detailed layering inspired by the old masters and then re-created in a contemporary manner in metal prints is an inspiration for the viewer in not just subject matter but also technique. This leads people to think ‘outside the box’, to be creative, to aspire to the unique.

If hanging paintings in your office can create such a positive impact, what are you waiting for? All budgets can be catered for just be imaginative, be unique, be splendid! And hopefully your staff will be too…….
 

paulears

Free Member
Jan 7, 2015
5,655
1,661
Suffolk - UK
Sadly - the above is largely complete and utter b****cks, sorry - rubbish.

All this talk of creating moods of happiness and inspiration? individually, art is something capable of creating or altering mood - BUT - and it's a huge but, it's 100% a solitary and unquantifiable method of doing something, with unpredictable results. Art really is in the eye of the beholder. For every painting that creates and sustains harmony, somebody else will become agitated.

I cannot stand anything impressionistic, for example - I could have a Constable or Lichtenstein on my wall, but my wife has relegated my Lichtenstein to the spare bedroom because it annoys her.

Other people simply have no artistic bone whatsoever, so investing in art for the workplace is a very dangerous and impossible to assess in terms of what it does. The evidence on art is that it impacts deeply on a tiny percentage of the population, and is largely uninteresting to the m majority. A niche product that is also difficult to introduce, because frankly, many people will just view whatever you pick as crap. Clearly, it isn't crap - what most people mean is very simple, they don't like it, don't get inspired by it, and perhaps laugh at it?
Hanging paintings looks nice to many people, but I fear the actual benefit is probably far less than swapping out the cheap large tin of Aldi powder coffee for something decent, or swapping hard plastic chairs in the tea room for comfy padded ones.
Research from the British Council also suggested that over 61% of staff felt that office art encouraged them to think more creatively


61% of people, but 61% of a balanced group of socio-economic groups and educational backgrounds? That, I suspect would reduce the 61% to something much, much lower.

Stereotyping, of course, and even maybe unacceptable today - but give a bunch of welders the choice between a painting done in pointillism or a poster of girls in bikinis, and the art would be in the bin.

Arty types always think art is a driving force, and frankly - they're just a very blinkered sub-section of the public.
 
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billybob99

I have art in my office.

It mainly looks like this.

variant_50.jpg
 
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GFI

Free Member
  • Jan 30, 2019
    75
    22
    You wouldn’t be an artist unless you wanted to share an experience..’ David Hockney

    Attempting to maximise the overall benefits of the most positive office environments ranges from the new coffee machine to relaxation pods with massage chairs and lunch time Yoga! However one of the most effective methods can be investing in art in the office.

    Art creates conversation, moods, inspiration, peace, happiness and thoughtfulness. It brings people together, whether in agreement or disagreement and encourages people to share their thoughts and get to know each other in a much more sympathetic way.

    Of course there will always be a market for the standard prints, the Ikea framed images, but to invest in more unique art and artists is much more exciting both for the buyer and of course the lucky staff! Paintings and furniture can be bought to serve more than just a functional purpose but can of course also be seen as a financial investement for the company. It has been said that ‘..office art increases the overall morale of a business unit, improves productivity and promotes gratifying collaboration..’ Research from the British Council also suggested that over 61% of staff felt that office art encouraged them to think more creatively.

    There are of course many considerations an office art buyer could consider when investing in the right piece. Obviously size does matter, colour, form and subject matter are all again important factors. Some may even consider Feng Shui and how and where the art should be placed, the importance of positive subject matters that inspire and delight creating happiness. Or of course it could just be a subjective love by the buyer of a particular piece understanding the impact it can have on people, whether this is a portrait of someone in thought or fine art photography exuding talent and technical genius.

    The inviting beach scene creates a mood of happiness and inspiration – does this inspire people to achieve that deserved luxury holiday? Can this brighten up a dull rainy day and inspire thoughts of happiness?

    It is not only subject matter however that can have an impact but of course the technique of artworks can be intriguing and inspiring. A fine art photographer whose techniques involve detailed layering inspired by the old masters and then re-created in a contemporary manner in metal prints is an inspiration for the viewer in not just subject matter but also technique. This leads people to think ‘outside the box’, to be creative, to aspire to the unique.

    If hanging paintings in your office can create such a positive impact, what are you waiting for? All budgets can be catered for just be imaginative, be unique, be splendid! And hopefully your staff will be too…….


    Wow.....
     
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    Mr D

    Free Member
    Feb 12, 2017
    28,925
    3,630
    Stirling
    I like some art. And dislike some art.

    Doesn't make a difference at work. I'm there to do a job not look at paintings or posters.
    Cannot recall any pub, lunch, night out or driving along discussion about art at all. Footballers, gossip, solutions to major problems like how to keep drinks cool in your pocket and so on.

    Getting to know people happens in many places with no art at all. Muddy cellars, concrete slabs, offices, cars, buses, trains etc.
     
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    Chris Ashdown

    Free Member
  • Dec 7, 2003
    13,380
    3,001
    Norfolk
    I did some research when we first get a office and the end result was to paint the walls in a shade of light lilac apparently it was meant to portray both relaxing and clear thinking

    It did give a impression of warmth in what was a cold and damp office build for fishermen in the 1850's and did not disguise the fish smell of past decades

    After that i gave up and painted all new offices in the cheapest color available apart from dark colours and did not see any behaviour difference
     
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