Where Business, Arts and Passion Intersect

What happens when business talent and “cultural creatives” meet? You produce a place where arts and culture flourish. A community where business prospers through diverse, stimulating and leadership-building opportunities. And where the entire region is the richer for the collaboration.

For a quarter-century, the Arts & Business Council of Greater Philadelphia, a Chamber affiliate, has been helping to create that place. And stories about the successful results abound:

First Person Arts, which develops and presents memoir and documentary art, had a pressing need for a new treasurer on their board. Susan Lowe, a senior audit manager for KPMG, filled the bill. She helped First Person Arts choose a new audit company and then followed the audit process, bringing her own knowledge as well as that of her KPMG colleagues. She even suggested a new way for the organization to look at its cash flow and budget projections.

Carl Rudnick, president/CEO of Lorel Marketing Group, donated his own expertise and his company’s creative talents to help InterAct Theatre Company develop a clearer brand identity. With Carl serving on InterAct’s board and marketing committee, the project grew to encompass designs for the theater’s website, posters for four productions and a new season brochure—which got rave reviews.

For the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial, Ed Mayer was a perfect fit. The nation’s oldest tuition-free art school was trying to develop a database that would integrate everything from class registration to donations to art sales. With experience managing technology and database projects, the VP of Radian GHroup had just the skills. He hosted meetings, negotiated contracts, dealt with a major funder and engaged outside consultants. Within months of the launch, 80% of Fleisher’s students were registering online and online giving was in the works.

Picture yourself where business, arts and passion intersect. Consider applying now for Business On Board, an experiential training program of the Arts & Business Council’s that prepares senior executives for serving on arts and cultural boards. For more details: Amelia Schmertz: 215-790-3769, aschmertz@artsandbusinessphila.org or go to www.artsandbusinessphila.org.