Art in the Hubs, a collaboration between Western Development Commission, Connected Hubs and the Contemporary Irish Arts Society (CIAS) has been shortlisted for the prestigious Best Creativity in the Workplace Award at the Business to Arts Awards. This recognition highlights the project’s innovative approach to fostering creativity in remote work facilities across the country.
The initiative was launched in February by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD and brings the power of art to remote workspaces through the Connected Hubs network. As part of the project, captivating pieces of art are carefully curated and placed in hubs, creating inspiring environments for remote workers. Participating hubs also undertake to support the work of local artists. The pilot project, which involved six hubs, has received overwhelming positive feedback, paving the way for a nationwide rollout.
Speaking about the shortlisting, Minister Heather Humphreys said
“As a former Minister for the Arts, I know that art can be so powerful in terms of bringing a space to life. That’s exactly what we want to do with the 300-plus remote working hubs that are now on board the Connected Hubs network. This unique pilot initiative is about bringing art into the community. It’s about creating art spaces that our remote workers can enjoy during their breaks and which can provide great benefits in terms of reducing stress and improving our mental wellbeing.
While there are six hubs chosen as part of the pilot scheme, I very much welcome the plans to roll this initiative out nationwide. The shortlisting for Best Creativity in the Workplace award celebrates and acknowledges the uniqueness and value of the project.”
One of the notable highlights of the initiative was the first Art in the Hubs week-long exhibition held at Ace Enterprise Park in June. The exhibition, opened to the public free of charge and showcased an array of artwork, including paintings purchased by the CIAS and captivating pieces by local Clondalkin artist Jo Lawless. Lawless, known for her depictions of landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes using oils and acrylics, added a distinct local flavour to the exhibition.
Allan Mulrooney, Interim CEO of Western Development Commission said
'Art in the Hubs' is a collaborative effort that has transformed remote workspaces into vibrant hubs of creativity. This nomination for the Best Creativity in the Workplace Award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all those involved, highlighting the success of our initiative. Our ultimate goal through ConnectedHubs is to make these hubs the focal point of every community, fostering education, art, and more.
The Business to Arts Awards celebrate exceptional creative partnerships that demonstrate outstanding support for the arts. With a history spanning over 30 years, the Awards serve as a flagship event on the corporate-cultural calendar. The various categories recognize achievements in arts sponsorship, commissioning, philanthropy, staff engagement programs, corporate social responsibility, access programs, creative community initiatives, and more.
Mary Pavlides, Chairperson, CIAS, said: “We are delighted that Art in the Hubs has been honored in the Business to Art Awards. In CIAS, our mission is to support contemporary Irish artists by acquiring their work and bringing it into the community, into buildings where people can enjoy and engage with the work. The prospect of extending the programme nationwide really excites us as it resonates completely with our mission. We are grateful to the ConnectedHubs.ie for the enthusiasm they have shown for the project and we would also like to thank our corporate donors; .IE, BDO International, Midland Steel and HR Locker for coming on board to scale Art in the Hubs nationwide .”
For more information on the awards and shortlisting see here.
