Memories - First Corporate Art Project

Wow! I love fb memories. My first (ever) corporate art event! Where did time go? #2012 My innovative approach to engaging corporates, differently, in the appreciation and acquisition of art. Being different, lonely, but pays off eventually. When the naysayers, years later, caught up with the vision of being different - diversification, nuance, disruptive, impeccable standard of spatial art curation, cultural intelligence... As well as seeking innovative ways of engaging young people, new art buyers/collectors, corporate/private collectors, the public. Most importantly, finding creative ways of supporting art beyond art acquisition. #artistsmustsurvive whether they sell their work or not! How, you may ask? And there, is where dynamism, vision, eclecticism and creativity come in. Ability to think outside the box! Gift or acquired? Is the million dollar question. 

The unseasoned and uncultured eye questioned the veracity of my criticism of the substandard curation of art from Africa by a very established art institution. However, now that there is competition, I have been vindicated. The competition inadvertently produced a benchmark. I digress!

I recall the CEO of Ecobank then, Mr Arnold Ekpe, asking "but you have no track record"? And I had responded with "if you don't give me a chance, how do I prove myself to you"? I wore him out with my tenacity, passion and exuberance. Fortunate I was though, that he was/is a man who appreciated culture and collected art himself; he empowered women and supported pan-Africanism too. Mr Ekpe never regretted his decision and I received a "thank you" email, for creating a perfect art exhibition to end their "Board Meeting" conference, attended by a diverse group of board members. In addition to making him very proud, for giving me a platform to prove my expertise. This opened the door to various corporate and private opportunities - word of mouth, the best form of PR. And a "track-record" gained!

I am blessed! Opinionated but blessed! Censorious but blessed! Innovative, dynamic, visionary, disruptive, constructive, charismatic, courageous and fearless! Still standing. Travelled far and wide, learning unfamiliar cultures and finding strengths in our differences and using our similarities as a bridge for partnership. #culturalintelligence.

Visionaries see vision - the light. True philanthropists understand the idea of combining business with philanthropy... aka ethical business. Still plodding on.

The concept of creating an alternative platform to showcase art rather than following the conventional/traditional ways - brick and mortar, gallery space etc. - is rewarding in the end.

The idea of using Pdf/email/digital platform to showcase art started, in 2012, way before #covid19 forced the world to think differently, especially the #artworld. Seeking corporate partnership and support directly, using their business and social events, executive board meetings and platforms to promote art and artists, to my mind, was more productive. It was imperative for me to find the people who could afford to support art beyond acquisition. I wanted people/companies who could at least sponsor the opening of art events - refreshments, mobilisation of art pieces in/out of their space. Even if no purchase was made, the artist would have gained visibility and a new audience, me and my gallery partners would not have spent a dime out of our pockets (apart from giving our time) to showcase the artists.

The Igbo mind always think numbers and return on time/investment. I personally include not compromising quality and standard. Be a #disruptor and work with #purpose. If simply making money, is why you bother to wake up every day, then you have failed yourself. I believe that we could all do good and still do well. Time reveals all.