Arts & Business NI were thrilled to launch an amazing array of Reconnection products – designed to support staff wellbeing – with prominent arts organisations from across Northern Ireland at a recent event in the Oh Yeah Music Centre.
As we emerge from the last two years, Arts & Business NI know that key challenges for many of their business members are encouraging people back into the office, reconnecting staff to reinforce sense of team, supporting mental (and physical) health and wellbeing and attracting and retaining staff- many businesses are addressing this by upskilling staff and/or supporting health & wellbeing.
Arts & Business NI did a call out to their arts members, including Arts Care, Cinemagic, Circusful, NI Opera, Outburst Arts and The Playhouse, to develop creative products designed to support staff wellbeing whilst fostering sense of team creatively and memorably.
The event opened with a zany Circusful performance and some hands-on juggling- getting guests into the creative zone.
Catherine Dolliver, Wellbeing Lead at PwC Belfast, outlined their Be Well, Work Well Programme and how wellbeing is integral to their new Merchant Square offices, enabling PwC to create the workplace of the future- a place where people want to be, not have to be.
“PwC wants its staff to feel supported during their careers with us, that is why our BeWell WorkWell strategy proactively helps them look after all aspects of their wellbeing. We provide them with the opportunity to practice self care as part of their daily routine making work life balance possible in the new hybrid and flexible working world.”
Catherine Dolliver
Conor O’Brien, Business Development Manager at Belfast Exposed talked us through their amazing Wellbeing through Photography Programme, which they have already successfully delivered with Citi, Translink, FinTrU and Health Trusts.
Sara Allen, Communications Manager at Citi Belfast shared some of the creative initiatives which they introduced to support the wellbeing of their 3,500+ employees, including the formation of a Citi Workplace Choir. Guests were entertained by a performance from the brilliant Citi Choir, directed by Keith Acheson.
“I really enjoy the choir – it’s lovely being able to step away from my desk and emails in the middle of the day and just sing! I feel uplifted and so energised after a choir session.
It has provided an opportunity for me to meet others from different business areas, who I would not have crossed paths with ordinarily and connect over our love of singing. Plus Keith, our Choir Director is just brilliant – fun and so patient!
To hear the audience applause after a live performance makes me feel so proud to be involved in the Citi Belfast choir”
Christine Stitt, Citi Choir Member
The second half of the event was devoted to networking- business guests had the opportunity to speak directly to the 15 arts members who developed bespoke Reconnection products.
Arts & Business NI have created a dedicated Reconnections webpage which features all of the brilliant creative products available: https://www.artsandbusinessni.org.uk/business-membership/reconnection-supporting-staff-cohesion-wellbeing
Arts & Business NI will happily connect businesses to any of the arts providers to spark some new ideas about how they could take a creative approach to supporting staff wellbeing and building teams
“Arts & Business NI is a membership organisation encompassing 73 businesses and 122 arts members- we connect our members to come up with creative solutions to business challenges. We are thrilled and proud to launch the brilliant array of Reconnection products developed by our A&BNI arts members. These creative products, ranging from opera experiences to circus workshops, a Queer book club to walking tours will help businesses to support the wellbeing of their staff.”
Maeve McKervey, Head of Business, Arts & Business NI
If you would like to find out about adopting creative solutions to your business challenges, please email m.mckervey@artsandbusinessni.org.uk
