Disclaimer: This blog is based on a true story. However, some names and events have been redacted to protect the author from potential lawsuits. The author believes that the readers are intelligent to connect the dots and identify the characters.
Once upon a time, in a wealthy city, there was a renowned art institute. This prestigious art institute was the best and the biggest in the state. This institute catered to the academic needs of various budding artists. This institute had a rich history of artistic success and culture. Art enthusiasts from all over the nation wanted to be accepted into this institute and would dream of becoming world class artists.
This prestigious art institute had a long standing tradition. Every year in the beginning of spring, this institute would arrange an art festival. Art lovers would eagerly wait for this festival to witness the magnificent artwork. This art festival was nothing like any other festival in the city. In this unique festival the pupils would get the opportunity to showcase their talent. Students would prepare fantastic art projects and these would be displayed at the art festival. Renowned artists from all over the world would visit this festival. Students whose work was featured in the art festival would get various opportunities to work with established artists. The success of the art festival would improve the recognition of the art institute. It would also provide a platform for art students display their work to a wider audiences.
Over the years, this art festival started gaining popularity among the masses. Irrespective of their profession, qualification, or interest, people started flocking to this festival; it became a trend. This was a boon as well as a bane. With more visitors, the buzz of the art festival started growing. With more visitors, the nearby businesses started growing. However, visit to the art festival became a phenomenon on social media. Actors, singers, influencers, and many "popular celebrities" started to visit the festival. Some artists started performing at the festival. Even more visitors started arriving at the art festival to see the artists' performances. The crowd at the art gallery of the festival started reducing.
Slowly the things started changing. Big companies identified a huge opportunity to promote themselves in this festival. They planned to snatch the attention from the art to their own promotions. These companies paid a huge amount to grab a spotlight at this festival. Their spots may or may not have an artwork, but the spot would carry the brand's name. Some companies would sponsor some art project only to showcase their name in the festival. Most of the sponsored projects would have a mediocre artwork at the display. Soon after, there were more big company projects than the students' art projects. Students original projects started getting side-lined and sponsored projects took the centre stage. The art institute wholeheartedly accepted the sponsors and performing artists, since they were generating more revenue than the art itself.
Now, the art festival was dull and lifeless. It has a huge commercial value but not art. The art at the display is lacklustre and soulless. Artwork is created to fit the brand's image rather than its artistic significance. Still the festival goes on and creates millions of impressions. The difference is that art is replaced with a product and art lovers got replaced with the influencer zombies.
The management lessons we learn from this story:
1. Commercial value overrides the artistic value.
2. Commercial value does not indicate the artistic value.
3. Where money drives the decisions, art may fail.
4. Money will control the artistic vision.
5. Sponsorship may not always help in building thoughtful art.
6. Not all publicity is a good publicity.
7. Money and greed may destroy good art.
8. Art lovers will seek art and influencers will seek profit.
9. Social media craze may die but art will survive.
10. Any noble initiative could be destroyed by greed.
Comments
Post a Comment