The inclusion of art is currently a major trend at trade fairs and other business event formats. It can enhance the experience factor and create lasting positive memories. By integrating various forms of art into modern event concepts, organizers can create a high-quality atmosphere that captivates and inspires participants while fostering interaction among them.
Here are 9 creative approaches to the event trend "Art meets Events" and the integration of different art forms at trade shows, meetings, conferences, corporate events, and other forms of business events:
1. Digital Art as a Decorative Element
Art is always an eye-catcher, especially at events like trade shows, meetings, conferences, and conventions. However, decorating an event location with art, e.g. art posters, often involves material use and waste production when the decorations are discarded after the event rather than being saved for future use. Ideal for more sustainable event decorations are art projections on energy-saving LED screens and LED walls. Modern technology makes it possible to transform almost any area of the venue into a visually stunning, multimedia experience. These artistic projections can range from digital animations and videos to interactive art installations.
2. Immersive Brand Experiences in Art Spaces
Art galleries, exhibition halls, museums, and modern showrooms are popular locations for events focused on creativity, culture, zeitgeist, and innovation. Immersive art spaces take this to the next level. Here, art is projected onto the entire room (including the ceiling and floor) using the latest projection technology and is made immersive with appropriate sounds and other scenic elements. Immersive means in this context: you can "dive into" the art and experience it with all your senses.
Tip*: An example of an immersive art space is the Phoenix des Lumières art center in Dortmund / Germany, which excites people with its immersive art shows and installations like the "KOSMOS" (Cosmos) show. The center for immersive art is also available for business events – offering not only a selection of available shows but also fully customized brand presentations upon request. More information is available at the EventMaster.Club Showroom: Phoenix des Lumières.
3. Collective Artworks that boost Team Spirit
Collective artworks, where all event participants work together on an art project, provide an excellent opportunity for team building and networking. These projects can range from large murals to sculptures, where each participant contributes to the overall art piece. Creating a collective artwork fosters collaboration and leaves a lasting symbol of team spirit. The artwork can find a worthy place in the company’s lobby, meeting room, or another well-frequented location after the event.
Tip*: An example of collective art at events is Paintillio. The Canadian company ships creative kits worldwide that allow even "non-artists" to easily create beautiful murals and classic paintings based on the "paint-by-numbers" principle. More information is available at the EventMaster.Club Showroom: Paintillio.
4. Art from Flowers and Plants – Energy Boosters for Lively Events
Digital art (see point 1) is always impressive when presented generously, but it lacks the natural element. Floral artworks made from flowers and plants can add elegance, color, and vibrancy to an event location. Flowers and plants are symbols of wealth and growth in many cultures. Lavish floral decorations and plant arrangements can create a cheerful, elegant, mystical, or euphoric mood, depending on the specific execution. In any case, they add the naturalness that many people seek and particularly appreciate in an increasingly technological world.
5. Culinary Artworks
Visual highlights that can be "consumed" on-site (and thus do not need to be thrown away after the event) are artworks made from food and beverages. Chefs and bartenders worldwide constantly invent new edible art, such as sculptures made from fruit and melons or creatively arranged snack or cupcake pyramids. Creative cocktail presentations and artfully presented dishes create personal wow! moments during the event’s breaks. Social media is filled with ever-new catering ideas showcasing art on plates and in glasses. Our tip: Take some time to search for new catering ideas. It’s truly incredible what creative people invent and achieve. If the result also tastes good and focuses on sustainability, the culinary artwork is perfect.
6. Artistic Music Acts
Good music is art in itself. An "event anthem" or an entire soundtrack created specifically for an event is a special highlight – especially when accompanied by exciting storytelling and explained in the event announcement. Artistic live music performances, which make an impact not only acoustically but also visually, are becoming increasingly popular as creative program elements at business events.
Tip*: A great example is greenbeats, which brings numerous wow! moments to the stage with their skillful use of green drums and spark-flying show elements. Information about greenbeats is available in the EventMaster.Club Showroom: greenbeats. Creative music acts, such as a marching band in bright red suits with a musical selection ranging from jazz to folk, are available via Myband.de, also featured in the Showroom: Myband.de.
7. Art to Take Home – Caricature Art & More
Artworks created on-site at events are a great way to engage and involve attendees. They also offer an opportunity for creative guest gifts. A print of the live-created artwork sent to guests after the event is a lasting memory. Art forms like caricature art or quick sketches also allow for personalized gifts that can be taken home right away.
Tip*: A nice giveaway is the caricature art created on beer coasters by the Dutch caricature duo Harold and Sandor. They bring humor to the event and provide guests with a personal keepsake. More information is available in the EventMaster.Club Showroom: Harold and Sandor.
8. Artistic Networking – Sip & Paint
A new event format called "Sip & Paint" combines socializing with creative expression. Guests can try their hand at creating their own small artworks, such as on mini-canvases or fabric (T-shirts, etc.), under the guidance of an artist, while enjoying a couple of cool drinks (cocktails, mocktails, etc.). This relaxed yet creative activity not only boosts the feel-good factor for guests but also creates a casual atmosphere where networking is made easy.
9. Graphic Recording: Artistic Illustration of Results and Experiences
Many business events convey information, knowledge, and insights on important industry topics. These are usually presented through slide presentations, videos, or pure lecture formats. Key information is often lost in the flood of information. This shortcoming can be addressed by an artistic illustration method: Graphic Recording.
Graphic Recording is a visually impressive method of presenting key information on a single canvas. This artistic form of event documentation helps participants better understand and retain the content presented. Graphic Recording also offers an exciting live performance, adding further dynamism to lectures, presentations, and workshops.
Tip*: Artistic illustrations, such as those by the German graphic recorder Matthias Schwert, can be a real highlight at business events. More information is available in the EventMaster.Club Showroom: Graphic Recorder Matthias Schwert.
Cover Image: Arts and Events – Event Trends (Photos: canva.com / Collage: EventMasterBook.com Editorial Team)
Related Topics: Event Trends, Art and Events, immersive art, digital art, decoration, catering, giveaways, presents, gifts, collective artworks, team building, experience concepts, business events, art experience, art formats at events, EventMasterClub Showroom, showroom for creative event ideas, event idea, inspiration, tips, knowledge, event planning, event management, trade show planning, program planning, event staging
Summary: Event Trends – Art and Events. This guide created by the EventMasterBook.com editorial team contains ideas and tips on using art at trade shows and other business event formats. It also includes references to potential event providers who can assist with implementing these ideas.
*EventMaster.Club is the event marketing community of EventMasterBook.com/.de. The EventMaster.Club showroom is a modern space for finding event ideas and providers. It is financed via Promoted Content Placements (paid advertisements). The showroom is published by AdCoach.de (business unit: AdCoach Media, www.adcoach.de) and is open 24/7 with free admission. The primary users of the showroom are event managers in Europe (esp. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium). The content is currently in German; it will soon be available in an international version. Link: https://eventmaster.club/de/event-ideen/
Please note: This article has been translated from German. Please excuse any translation errors. You can find the original article at: eventmasterbook.de | Eventtrends – Kunst und Events
