Last month, I talked about the ways that arts organizations develop their audiences and programs—and how the arts can offer inspiration for meeting planning. The arts also can serve as a source of inspiration and learning for our participants if we make a more deliberate attempt to include them in our events.
It sometimes happens socially (you hire a local band for a reception) or ceremonially (a high- school or college student sings the opening anthem). Buthowabout turning the arts from an afterthought or occasional occurrence into an intentional tool for enhancing your conference’s learning andcommunity? Here are a few strategies for incorporating the arts into your program: Relationship builder—At the 2011 Event-
Camp National Conference, held in Chicago on Feb. 11–13, organizers used CountryMusic Asso- ciationAward–winning songwriter Billy Kirsch to engage conference participants in a collaborative effort to write an official EventCamp song. The result? An instant community-building activity as oldfriends andnewconnectionsworked togeth- er, creating a memorable opening-night experience in the process. Visual identity—For your next conference
logo, why not commission an artist from your meeting’s locale to create an original work, and then auction it (and limited-edition prints of it) as a fundraiser? Rather than generic imagery or stock photography, you gainsomething distinct to yourownmeeting, while supporting a local artist. Goone step further and have a local sculptor cre- ate your annual top awards, or have your plaques feature images from a local painter. Community pride — No matter what the
profession or industry, there are artists (often- times unsung) in every community. What could generate more personal and community pride (as well as numerous “I didn’t know she could do that” expressions) than spotlighting them during your conference?You couldinclude “ArtsBreaks” during each general session and feature a perform- ance or two, add artist performances to your
awards ceremony, or create an evening reception and social event featuring a member-only talent showcase. When the International Trademark Association’s members displayed their painting, photography, and handmade jewelry at last year’s AnnualMeeting, itwas a big hit. (Read about it in the December 2010 issue of Convene at http://bit.ly/gfbtkK.) Professional development — Harvard
Medical School andMountSinai Medical College are two renowned institutions that make art- museumvisits part of their curriculum in order to improve the diagnostic skills of their medical stu- dents. The result? Students’ ability to make more accurate patient observations increased almost 40 percent, according to a study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Try arranging for a local college facultymember ormuseumdocent at your host destination to present an art-appreciation session. It just might offer your participants a new perspective. Innovation training— Artists are the masters
of making something out of nothing and giving form to new creations—often while operating under significant constraints. Every professional needs a similar competency if they are to success- fully innovate in their organizations. Help your par- ticipants do so by offering a daily arts course or an entire session block of workshops. Speed drawing, improvisation, oral interpretation, and music per- formance can teach valuable lessons about creativ- ity, innovation, authenticity, and teamwork in newand interesting ways. Include an ample debrief in each session, so participants get the most from these unexpected learning opportunities by dis- cussing how to apply what they’ve learned to their personal and professional challenges.
ON_THE_WEB: See a well-sung (albeit poorly lit) live performance of the EventCamp song at http://ow.ly/3Wv7T.
32 pcma convene April 2011 ILLUSTRATION BY JEAN TUTTLE
LastingMemories The arts are an underutilized source for unique confer- ence community- building, social, and professional-develop- ment experiences. Look forways to weave the emotional staying powerof the arts throughout your own conference. For example, to leave lasting impressions of your host city, feature various arts venues and performances during a special Night on the Town. And, by purchasing blocks of tickets fortheater and musical perform- ances and/or group tours at local muse- ums, you’ll give par- ticipants the opportunity to expe- rience a memorable and intimate evening out, while supporting the local arts com- munity.
Jeffrey Cufaude is a former higher- education administrator, meeting planner, and association executive. Currently he designs and presents high-impact learning experiences, including engaging conference keynotes and workshops. Learn more about his work atwww.idea architects.org or follow him atwww.twitter .com/jcufaude.