Creative Debuts positions artistic talents at the heart of placemaking.

How do we create optimistic workplaces rooted in authenticity? The answer is through art, according to Calum Hall, founder of Creative Debuts.

Businesses are under pressure to encourage their employees back to the office - to offer spaces that compete with living rooms and homemade workspace set ups. These spaces need to delight and create impact, but also fully meet the needs of the end user.

These needs can be wide-spanning, as we learned from conversations with our community at both the Designing for EDI and Demystifying EDI seminars in Manchester and Glasgow, “You can’t copy and paste the same principles”, commented Stephanie Kyle, associate & inclusive design consultant at Floyd Slaski Architects. A sentiment taken away from both events was that designing for EDI means making people feel safe and supported so that they can be their authentic self. So, how can art play a part in this?

Walking through a workplace where the walls are alive with art, telling original stories, and offering fresh perspectives and social commentary, has the power to make workspaces feel more human, creative and inclusive.

Creative Debuts believes artists’ work often encourages viewers to become more curious and imaginative in their own thinking - both at work and socially. Whether it’s a bold statement mural in reception to captivate colleagues and clients, or a curated collection, Creative Debuts thinks art has the potential to provoke reactions, inspires conversations, and encourage creativity and innovation.

Showcasing an impressive array of artistic talent, Creative Debuts connects businesses and brands with artists from around the globe, offering a platform to emerging and marginalised artistic voices. Organisations such as Spotify, eBay and Wise have all seen the benefits of supporting and showcasing Creative Debuts’ roster of artists. And it is determined to help more companies, regardless of size, to do the same.

Its art rental service is a simple way to make this happen. The organisation employs a collaborative approach of matching artists and artwork to a business, alongside its values and objectives. The team also oversees the practicalities around it.  

The recent Dojo project in Bristol is an example of how art can bond people together in a workspace and give them a shared sense of place and belonging. Rather than renting art, Creative Debuts brought local graffiti artists; Oshii, Andy Council, Epod and Will Barras off the streets and into the contact centre to create mural artworks. This gave a real creative buzz that encapsulated Bristol’s diverse culture and sense of community.

It was a deliberate design choice to positively engage the - typically young - contact centre workers, helping them to feel valued, nurtured and more inclined to stay in their roles. 

Not only did the graffiti, for which Bristol is renowned, create a vibrant, cool energy, it was also designed to be part of an employee's daily experience featured on table tops and a large mural straddling two floors. It was a bold statement by Dojo showing its youthful energy and focus on social capital. 

The power of art in workspaces is evident, but choosing the right art for a business or brand is important too. Companies want art that creates a visceral connection between the viewer and its values and purpose as an organisation. This means finding art that offers visual cues and associations about what the business is about, where it’s located, and what it believes in. 

Montague Evans, a London-based chartered surveyor has invested in its art subscription offering, bringing a six-monthly changing exhibit of art collections from local artists into its workplace.

“Investing in emerging artists through Creative Debuts is an investment in our culture itself. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to creating inclusive and inspiring spaces, celebrating diversity, and sparking meaningful conversations within our community, enriching our environments with the power of diverse artistic expression."

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All images used courtesy of Creative Debuts