Arts & Business Scotland (A&BS) announces its first event of the year, the Culture and Business Scotland Conference 2022 that will have as one of its key speakers, Chris van der Kuyl, Chairman of 4J Studios, the developers of Minecraft.
The event, that will take place online from 2pm on Thursday 10th February and hosted by BBC Scotland‘s Arts Correspondent, Pauline McLean, welcomes the business, public, and culture sectors to come together to discuss how engaging with creativity and culture can be the key to not simply surviving but thriving, both in the wake of the pandemic, and in the face of key universal challenges. On the agenda will be learning how arts and heritage organisations have creatively repurposed and re-allocated their tangible and intangible assets to provide solutions to these topics.
The event coincides with the launch a major A&BS survey of business and public sector organisations across Scotland. The findings from these surveys will be used to create an online resource of products and services to meet supply and demand, and act as a platform to profile collaborative opportunities to help the sectors to connect and thrive.
From the impact of Covid-19 and environmental sustainability requirements to staff wellbeing and retention, the event will cover a range of topics presented and investigated by these experts.
Another topic of universal relevance being covered, is environmental sustainability, with representatives from Aviva Investors on hand to discuss how a partnership with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) enabled them to drive the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda. SCO will also be on hand to discuss the partnership and how it worked for them.
The full list of expert confirmed speakers is Chris van der Kuyl of 4J Studios; Jo Macsween of Macsween Haggis; Sean McGrath of Entrepreneurial Scotland; David Nelson and James Whiteman of SCO with Aviva Investors; Marije Pluijm of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam; Louise MacDonald of Institute of Directors Scotland; and Stuart Patrick of the Glasgow Chambers of Commerce with more speakers to be confirmed.
As second keynote speaker Jo Macsween will share first-hand experiences of the benefits of cross sector collaboration including how Macsween worked with a creative partner to enable better employee engagement, helping to create a more positive working environment. Marije Pluijm from the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam will discuss how a partnership with electronics giant Phillips allowed the museum to embrace new technology to bring the museum to life for audiences unable to visit during lockdown, and how the museum assets were employed to enhance MRI scanning from both a patient and medical perspective. Speakers will take questions at the event.
To register for the Culture and Business Scotland Conference 2022, please go to https://www.aandbscotland.org.uk/events/
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 