From Blank Walls to Bold Statements: Creative Debuts is Changing Workplace Culture

Imagine walking into an office and being confronted with bare white walls or bland generic corporate images – what does that say about the company, and how much they value everyone who walks through their door? First impressions count, and a company that doesn’t care about this in today’s climate will soon feel the impact.

Dojo’s new Bristol workspace – Read more here

Now imagine walking into an office where the walls are alive with art; art that tells a story, provokes a reaction, inspires conversations, and encourages creativity and innovation. The office transforms into a place that people actually want to come to, feel part of, and prosper in.

Art has the power to transform not only a space and all those in it, but also people’s lives, both those of the artist and the viewer. And when those artists are from marginalised backgrounds, sharing their own stories and unique views of the world, then its power to create lasting impact and change for everyone is immeasurable.

Dojo, Bristol

With more senior leaders looking at ways to encourage their employees back into the office, the workspace is under more pressure than ever to compete with people’s living rooms. The look and feel of the space must be inviting, engaging, and inclusive; a place where all employees feel a sense of belonging, whatever their identity, gender, race, religion or disability. The office has evolved from being never ending rows of desks to being the embodiment of the business’s brand and culture.

Dojo, Bristol

We live and work in a society with so many divides. At Creative Debuts, they believe that art can break down barriers and bring people together in a positive and collaborative way. In light of the rolling back of DEI initiatives across the pond, many people both in the US and here in the UK are feeling anxious about what the future looks like and whether their workplace will be a supportive place to be in years to come.

Installing artwork at Montague Evans

Research by the British Council of Offices found that 61 per cent of employees believe that art in the office improves their happiness and creates a more positive environment. While the University of Westminster found that spending as little as 35 minutes in front of art reduces stress by up to 32 per cent. Mental health and inclusivity are no longer optional perks in the modern workplace, but the essential building blocks for a thriving work environment.

The power of art in workspaces is evident, but choosing the right art for your business or brand is important too. Companies want art that creates a visceral connection between the viewer and its values and purpose as an organisation – that means finding art that offers visual cues and associations about what the business is about, where it’s located, and what it believes in.

Dojo, Bristol

In the UK, we have a breath-taking array of creative talent that is under the radar – artists and designers, particularly those who come from marginalised backgrounds, who find it challenging to reach wider audiences due to closed doors and limited opportunities. This presents an exciting opportunity for businesses and brands to champion these artists; helping them grow and expanding their networks and artistic practices, all while giving them the chance to see their work showcased in the type of real estate that’s often out of reach to them.

Companies that support artists like this are not only preserving and championing a vital part of our cultural ecosystem, they are also contributing to the survival of an industry that offers significant value to the economy – generating around £124 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) as recorded in 2022.

Calum Hall, founder of Creative Debuts in Tate & Lyle’s HQ

At Creative Debuts the team have a plethora of artists who can transform business and brand spaces through original storytelling, fresh perspectives, bold ideas and social commentary. Their work often encourages viewers to become more curious and imaginative in their own thinking both at work and socially. Whether it’s a bold statement mural in reception to captivate colleagues and clients, a curated collection that sparks conversations, or a bespoke artwork that tells a company’s unique story, their art has the power to make workspaces more human, creative, and inclusive.

Dojo, Bristol

Brands and businesses such as Spotify, eBay and Wise have all seen the benefits of supporting and showcasing Creative Debuts’ roster of emerging, marginalised artists, and they are passionate about helping more companies, regardless of size, to do the same. Creative Debuts’ art rental service is a simple way to make this happen; with a collaborative approach to matching artists and artwork to a business and their values and objectives, while also overseeing the practicalities around it.

Montague Evans, a London-based Chartered Surveyor has invested in Creative Debuts’ art subscription offering, bringing a six-monthly changing exhibit of art collections from local artists, Black creators and the LGBTQ+ community into their office. They have really seen the benefits of celebrating diversity within their space, and its role in triggering interesting conversations that help break down DEI barriers in their organisation:

“Investing in emerging artists through Creative Debuts is an investment in our culture itself. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to creating inclusive and inspiring spaces, celebrating diversity, and sparking meaningful conversations within our community, enriching our environments with the power of diverse artistic expression.”

Dojo, Bristol

Tate & Lyle, another organisation that opted for our subscription model, ended up falling in love with their artworks, ultimately deciding to purchase them as they felt so at home in their headquarters.

And the recent Dojo project in Bristol is a great example of how art can bond people together in a workspace and give them a shared sense of place and belonging. Rather than renting art, Creative Debuts brought local graffiti artists Oshii, Andy Council, Epod and Will Barras off the streets and into the contact centre to give it a creative buzz that encapsulates Bristol’s diverse culture and sense of community.

Oshii with his work at Dojo

It was a deliberate design choice to positively engage the typically young contact centre workers helping them to feel valued, nurtured and more inclined to stay in their roles.

Not only did the graffiti, for which Bristol is renowned, create a vibrant, cool energy, it was also designed to be part of an employee’s daily experience featured on table tops and a large mural straddling two floors. It was a bold statement by Dojo showing its youthful energy and focus on social capital.

Dojo, Bristol

Creative Debuts’ passion is to ensure that marginalised voices and stories are shared artistically in as many places as possible. When companies choose to support this, they too help break down barriers, ignite new conversations, and spark ideas and innovation within their own organisations. This not only helps them stand out from the crowd, but also makes them part of a network of forward-thinking companies who really understand the value of art in shaping positive, desirable workplaces.