Throughout history, the arts have been more than entertainment—they have played a significant role in promoting individual and community wellbeing. Introducing the arts and opportunities to be creative into your work environment offers a meaningful way to connect with colleagues, build community, and support your employees’ physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
There are many different ways - large and small - to bring the arts into the workplace based on your office culture. Below are a few accessible ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- Bring visual art into your office space. Studies have shown that engaging with visual art can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mood, and increase overall wellbeing. The University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum has an Art Rental Program that offers U of M students, employees, and departments the opportunity to display pieces of art from the museum’s rental collection in their homes or offices. Thrift stores, estate and garage sales, and art fairs are also excellent places to find affordable pieces of art.
- Establish an exhibition space where employees or constituents can display their own visual art, photography, or crafts, helping colleagues learn more about one another's talents and interests. It could be in a shared space like a break room or in an underutilized hallway that could use some fresh energy.
- Take your meeting on the go and view public art. Change up your environment to boost energy and spark fresh ideas at your next meeting by planning a route that visits nearby public art installations. The University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus has many public art works to visit - or research what public art is near your office.
- Offer a creative space for your employees. Being creative doesn’t need to be serious. Host a fun and informal space for employees to socialize, relax, and work on crafts and art projects. You can provide art supplies including paints, canvases, coloring books, and markers or toys such as PlayDoh, Lite Brites, or Legos to connect with your inner child.
- Create a collaborative playlist. Do you have a team project on the horizon such as putting together a large mailer or collating supplies for an event? Music can help brighten up even the most mundane task. Create a playlist in your favorite music streaming app and send a link to colleagues to contribute their go-to songs to play as a soundtrack while you work together. A crowdsourced playlist is a great backdrop to a team lunch, too!