Investing in tech, office furniture and employee wellbeing is one thing, but an independent contemporary art gallery believes your workplace can be improved by addressing those blank walls.
London and Bristol-based KELLART is encouraging businesses to involve original art pieces in the workplace, citing research that suggests enriched workplaces have a measurable impact on their employees.
Research from the University of Exeter found that employees working in offices enhanced with artwork and flora were 17% more productive than those in sparse, undecorated spaces. When employees were actually consulted in design and decoration, productivity increased by as much as 32%.
For employers, benefits can go beyond just productivity. Artwork can help to foster greater creativity and stimulate workplace conversation. It can also contribute to employee wellbeing and offer a unique way for businesses to express their culture and identity.
Brad Kellard, founder of KELLART, said: “Businesses invest a huge amount in their people and their workplaces, but what goes on the walls is often an afterthought.
“A piece of art can completely change how a space feels, and when employees are involved in choosing the work, it becomes part of creating their own environment.”
KELLART is now making its collection of original contemporary art from emerging artists available to rent. Through its new art rental service, companies can acquire original art via subscription, negating the commitment and outlay of purchasing an entire collection.
KELLART will handle curation on behalf of the business, or it could be used as part of a team building exercise, allowing employees to be part of the process. An appropriate collection will then be installed that suits the size and character of the workplace. There is an option to leave the collection in place or rotate pieces every few months, keeping the workplace refreshed and vibrant.
Businesses, or even individual employees, have the option to acquire individual pieces that they feel particularly connected to at preferential rates. In some circumstances, artwork rental within business premises may be treated as a tax deductible business expense.
Beyond enriching the workplace, the service also allows for original artwork from emerging artists to gain a wider audience, often placing it in front of people who may rarely visit a traditional art gallery.
Brad Kellard founded KELLART to continue the legacy of his father, former professional footballer Bobby Kellard, whose life took an unexpected turn after leaving the game when a passion for collecting art eventually led him to open his own gallery.
His philosophy was simple: if he didn’t love it, he wouldn’t sell it.
That philosophy remains central to KELLART today. Only now, the gallery wants to help more of that art find its way out of traditional galleries and into spaces where people spend most of their day.
