I do not have the creative gene unless you count these little blog-tastic musings I put out twice a week. I remember as a child painting masterpieces for the family frig, making a bigger mess than necessary and never quite getting a handle on using scissors. I ran with them a lot.
Art for the grown up world is more complex, beautiful and thought provoking. What is art anyway? If you expand your definition it can include what is on a cloth canvas or skate deck, what glides gracefully across a stage, what is captured in the split second of a camera’s shutter, what is weird and unsettling to most but others see as provocative and alluring. Art is as diverse as the people who admire it.
Young professionals are viewing art not as an abstract medium but as a networking outlet. The rise in young friends groups associated with established cultural institutions and exhibits targeted to young professionals isn’t a random brush stroke of genius.
Location, location, location!
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River City Professionals, a non-profit networking organization that meets monthly for happy hours, recently chose the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis as its location spot for cocktails and chit chat one summer evening. Much to the surprise of founder, Scott Lapp, the event attracted over 600 guests. RCP enjoys a nice showing each month but the Contemporary really brought out the masses. Why?
According to Scott, “Any time RCP visits one of our fantastic cultural institutions, there is a spike in attendance. But the biggest factor was the collaboration with the Contemporary and the local artists participating in Open Studios. This partnership provided a fantastic mix of young professionals, artists and art supporters.” To recap – location, location, location!
RCP is looking to capitalize on the art oriented success of this event by following up with another creative coup by hosting its August 18, 2009 event (and seven year anniversary) at The Sheldon Concert Hall and Ballroom. To sign up for the event, check out the RCP website.
All the world’s a stage at Chouteau’s Landing
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Connect With…, the non-profit collaborative of 40 young professionals groups, is hosting an arts and performance experience on August 13, 2009 in the emerging art district of Chouteau’s Landing. With Black Label Gallery Lounge as the hub, Connect With…The Arts will bring together a convergence of circus antics from Circus Flora, historical reenactments from the Missouri History Museum, interactive art stations from the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Missouri Botanical Garden, belly dancers and much more. Yes, this will be the center of the cultural universe from 5:30pm to 11pm. Tickets for this art-centric event are on sale now.
Is the art scene the new networking scene? Shmoozing at the Black Rep or gabbing at a St. Louis Art Museum opening could be as essential to enhancing your professional pedigree as certifications or continuing education. Scott Lapp of RCP, put it this way, “Without a doubt, arts play an important role in your professional life and it is important to be well rounded in order to connect with prospects, employers and coworkers.”
If you are looking for art young friends groups, check out the organizations in the Connect With… collaborative at the official website. Regardless of your past art exposure or knowledge, any of the groups in the collaborative would be happy to embrace your creative curiosity. Looking for other networking opportunities? Check out a list of networking events you should know about.
Photos courtesy of River City Professionals and Opera Theatre St. Louis
For more info:
River City Professionals
Connect With...
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